Helping Autistic Children to Cope When Moving
The transition of moving to a new home can be tough on anyone, but helping autistic children is especially important.
While they may not express their distress in the same ways that neurotypical children do, children with autism are still feeling a lot of stress and anxiety during this time. In fact, research has found that children with ASD often have trouble expressing emotions verbally, which makes them even more likely to experience emotional challenges in new situations. Here are some tips from experts on how you can help your child cope with transition difficulties.
Communication is Key
The more you can communicate before, during, and even after your move, the more likely a successful transition.
Because children with autism need extra time to adjust to change, give your child as much warning as possible. Invest more time in explaining why the family is relocating, where you will be moving to, and answering their questions.
Remember to drip-feed other related information for your child to process – from descriptions of the neighborhood to details about their new school and different social interactions.
If possible, get outside help with as much of the heavy lifting and administrative tasks as you can so that you have the time to repeat and reassure your child about the move. It is not going to be a one-time conversation!
Use Visual Aids to Explain
Visual supports help ASD kids to stay focused on the message (thereby reducing anxiety symptoms), understand abstract concepts, and remember things that you have explained to them, including what is expected of them. They also help your child to process events in their own time and express their feelings and needs.
In normal periods, daily tasks and schedules would be used. During transition times, additional visual aids could include:
- If possible, a walk-through your new home for a sneak peak.
- Photos of the old and new house.
- A homemade or bought book describing what to expect when relocating.
- Use of social stories.
- A calendar of precisely what will happen when. Be sure to update and discuss the timeline as it (inevitably) changes.
- Overlay a count down to the move over to your normal routine. This way you can offer positive reinforcement (praise, edible rewards, and breaks) for completing both regular and new tasks.
Let Them Be Part of The Packing Process
Autistic children have a particularly difficult time with change. This is why it’s important to maintain as much normalcy as feasible during a move. A way to help them get to grips with what will happen to their routine possessions is to involve them with the packing.
Explain what is staying (like the bathtub) and what can go with you (for example, their bed). Then allow your child to decide what to keep and what they are willing to get rid of ahead of the move. Let them put stickers on items they want to keep – giving you time to explain why certain fixtures must be left behind.
Using colourful boxes ups the fun factor while also making it easy to remember which belongings are going into which box.
As well as labeling the boxes with contents and your child’s name, let them decorate the box with pictures of what’s inside. These visual images allay anxiety and fear.
Find a balance between boxing up different areas of your child’s room in stages and packing it up last. This way they can get ready for each session, but also maintain as much routine as possible. (The reverse is true upon arrival in your new home. Unpack their room first and let them start adjusting to their environment as soon as possible.)
Bribe encourage your child with a reward such as their preferred activity after each productive day.
Be Patient with Their Adjustment
Decrease demands; increase rewards.
Part and parcel of autism parenting is learning patience. This is a big ask when you are going through the stress of a move yourself. So remember to be as gentle with yourself as you will be to your child. Focus on taking deep breaths, borrow their stress ball, and reward yourself for each victory.
You are not alone during this period of upheaval – or on the entire journey. Contact Autism Center for Kids today for support and guidance in helping autistic children.
