Autism is the condition characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, speech and non verbal communication. Children with autism often restricted, rigid, and even obsessive in their behavior, activities and interest. Also, they have difficulty in regulating their emotions appropriately most specially during the current time of quarantine or social distancing.
During this pandemic situation, kids with special needs are having the hard time to cope up with the situation. Corona virus are spreading around the world that is why schools as well as other business establishments are closed and order people to stay home to prevent contracting the disease. For children with autism, this drastic change from their daily routine. Parents are left wondering with regards with quarantine and lock downs.
With school closures, children with autism are still pre occupied with their routine in their minds, and do not understand what is happening outside. They cannot internalize the current situation such as the closure of school, stores, malls and restaurants. That is why, they throw tantrums, scream and spin. Parents become stressed and depressed and do not know what to do.
Here are some tips for drawing up a schedule during the quarantine with our children:
• Provide pictures or videos to have clear explanation of quarantine to understand the drastic change of routines. Explain to them the concept of quarantine so that they may adjust their daily routines at home. Maybe you can change the outdoor activities with fun learning indoor activities such as watching TV, listening to music, painting, etc.
• Give time to adapt to the new learning environment. You can provide alternative learning at home but oftentimes they think that being at home means playing and relaxing so it is necessary to give them to time to adapt the home learning concept.
• Make a schedule quite similar to their daily routine. It should be consistent so that they may know that they have schedule as they have in their school
• Accompany your children in doing task or assignment. Children with autism usually do their activities with their children as their companion so studying alone at home can be scary. If your children can work independently so parents stand back and guides only when needed
• Parents also teach their children with household chores such as making up their beds, cleaning rooms, washing plates, baking or cooking. These activities help their stress during home learning
• Do some fun activities with your kids such as painting, art and craft, fun games, dancing, singing, playing dough, etc. Encourage your siblings to join them to work as group.
• Always remember to appreciate everything that your children accomplish even though their work is not perfect. Always give a compliment even for the little things. Also, you can give rewards if they reach a certain level of achievement.
• Create comfortable environment because these children are easily bored and have sensory issues.. Stay positive, happy and patient. Find activities that raise their enthusiasm.