Easing Anxieties About Changing Your Routine

For children who have autism spectrum disorder (ASD), changes in routine can be distressing. For instance, a child might become upset upon going to an unfamiliar place such as a doctor’s office, doing a certain activity at a different time of day, or even eating a new food. If you want to minimize the stress that your child feels upon encountering changes to his or her routine, there are a number of strategies that you can try.

It tends to be helpful to introduce changes gradually. If you will be taking your child to a new school, for example, you might visit the school a few times together at quiet times of day so that your child can get used to the new environment. Many children also appreciate having a daily timetable that tells them when each different event of the day will happen. Incorporating new activities into this timetable can help your child acclimate to them.

Since May 2006, STAR of CA has been providing important mental health resources to communities in Ventura County and beyond. We are committed to providing the best services possible to educate and assist families who are dealing with ASD and related disorders. Call (805) 644-7827 for more information about the services we offer.