Planning Outings with Your Child: Tips to Prevent Sensory Processing Overload and Meltdowns

Most children with Autism have sensory processing issues, making trips to public places challenging for both the child and parent. A “simple” trip to the grocery store can quickly turn into an extremely overwhelming experience for the child, culminating in a full meltdown for him or her and a pile of stress for you – not to mention the potential embarrassment and frustration that comes from the reactions of people in the store who do not understand what is happening.

Parenting a child with Autism requires a strategic approach to tackling daily activities. The more structure and planning you provide, the better you and your child will be able to navigate the challenges and hurdles you face. Your home environment is a space that you can manage in a way that helps your child cope with sensory processing deficiencies, however once you step outside, all bets are off. Lights, sounds, scents, and many other factors can quickly and easily overwhelm your child, even on trips that are meant to be fun. So, how do you help your child learn to cope with the outside world and enjoy a full life?

Here are some strategies to help:

1. Plan Ahead: Abrupt changes and transitions, as well as new environments are often extremely overwhelming to a child with Autism and can quickly lead to a meltdown. As much as possible, plan your trips in advance and let your child know the schedule and what to expect. Keep a schedule posted in your home and review it with your child regularly. When schedule changes do need to occur, take time to talk to your child and explain what is happening. Try to give them as much forewarning as possible to help them adjust to the change.
2. Introduce New Places Gradually: Unfamiliar places can quickly overwhelm a child with Autism. To minimize this, choose a non-peak time to take your child to the new place for a brief introduction to the venue. This allows them to familiarize themselves with the place so they are better prepared to participate in an activity there. You may need to do this several times before they are ready
3. Take Breaks: Take pro-active steps to prevent sensory overload by providing opportunities for breaks. This is a great tool to help your child learn how to better self-regulate. Determine a safe place that your child can go to take a time-out every 30 minutes or as needed during the activity and build this into the plan. This could include going outside for a short walk or sitting in the car for a few minutes and practicing self-soothing strategies. If your child is more self-aware, encourage them to request a break when they begin to feel uneasy or overwhelmed. For those who are less able to self-regulate, you may need to intervein and suggest taking a break when you notice the warning signs that they are becoming overwhelmed.
4. Sensory Bag: Make a bag of tools that help your child to reorganize, de-escalate and re-regulate and bring it with you on your outings. You and your child can make it together as a fun activity. Choose items that work best for your child’s sensitivities and put them in a small bag that is easy for them to carry with them on trips. Some items that may be helpful to include in your sensory bag:

1. Sunglasses
2. Headphones and MP3 player
3. A tactile brush
4. A baseball cap or wide-brimmed hat
5. Weighted blanket or lap pad
6. Noise cancelling earmuffs
7. Tactile items such as soft fabric or stuffed animals
8. Grounding/fidgeting toys (squeeze balls, tangles, silly putty, worry stones, etc.)
9. Healthy snacks and bottled water
10. Hand lotion and lip balm
11. Change of clothing

5. Exit Strategy: Even with the best laid plans, meltdowns will happen, so plan for them. When you plan your trip, consider what steps you will need to take if you need to leave quickly and plan for them. Who else is with you? Are there other children to consider? Are there people you can reach out to for help? Will you need to make payment for anything and how? What other logistical considerations are there? If your child is able, set up a way for them to signal to you that they have had too much and need to leave. It gives them some control in the situation and teaches them an important skill. Either way, you will need to pay close attention to how they are coping. If you see that they are reaching their limit, it is time to leave. Do not wait until he or she reaches their breaking point and goes into a full meltdown. Watch the warning signs, use the above-mentioned tools, and if it is too much – leave.

6. Choose Appropriate Activities: Yes, it is absolutely necessary for your child to experience the world and learn how to cope with the unique challenges that come with Autism and sensory processing issues. You will want to choose activities that are appropriate for your child’s needs, however. Events that are loud and crowded may be too much for them to handle, leading to a meltdown and unnecessarily creating extreme anxiety for your child. Take time to consider the environment, the crowds, and other sensory aspects of the activity and how it will impact your child. Many businesses have started offering sensory-friendly activities which are a great way to help your child experience new community activities in a less overwhelming environment that is accepting of their challenges.

This article was originally published at http://www.justinunlimited.org.

Reprinted with permission from the author.