As an adult, there’s a good chance that you have some semblance of a daily routine. Perhaps it’s something as simple as brushing your teeth and taking a shower immediately upon waking up in the morning, or it might be as complex as creating a daily schedule for yourself that you pin on your refrigerator.
Whatever the case may be, a routine is essential for a child with autism or other unique learning needs. Without it, you will have a much more difficult time acclimating your student to the stressors and challenges of daily life. Routines can help reduce tantrums and foster a sense of order and structure in a child’s life.
Here are some other benefits of setting a daily routine and more information on how schedules can help your child with unique learning needs succeed.
Gets Your Child on a Predictable Schedule
Every family and classroom needs some kind of routine to establish a sense of normalcy and get things done. If you’ve ever been thrown off your daily routine, no matter how much so, you may find yourself inexplicably stressed and anxious. It’s no different for a child with unique learning needs.
No matter the age of your child, setting a routine will help them know what to expect when it comes to day-to-day activities like mealtime, naps, playtime, and schoolwork. This will help him wind down and rest when it’s time as well as recognizing times for transitions. When the day-to-day routine is predictable, it is much less stressful for you and for your child.
Plus, it will make it easier to plan for added events like doctor’s appointments or family gatherings without too much disruption.
Reduces Anxiety
Change is a learning opportunity, but for a child with unique learning needs like autism, those learning opportunities can be overwhelming. By establishing a routine and schedule that you can set your clock on, your child will have fewer opportunities to get stressed out and to fear the unknown.
There are going to be times when you can’t control a disruption to routine. It’s inevitable that things will pop up that will throw you – and your child – for a loop. That’s okay. You can’t control everything. However, you should do your best to establish a routine that’s relatively predictable, straightforward, and easy to follow, as it can help reduce the all-too-familiar anxious episodes and meltdowns that happen when the routine is disrupted.
Promotes Family Bonding
Many children with unique learning needs struggle when it comes to forming connections with others. This is especially true of children with autism, who struggle bonding with other people early and often.
A daily routine will make it easier for you to regularly incorporate family activities into your child’s life without too much resistance. For example, you can add traditions like eating breakfast together every morning. This will help your child connect to you and others in your family with greater ease.
Establishes Expectations
Rather than having a meltdown every time they are asked to pick up their room or get in the bathtub, a daily routine will help your child become accustomed to these requests by recognizing them as simply being part of the daily routine. When it’s clear that these actions are not optional but instead part of the day-to-day schedule, your child will become much better at doing what is expected of him.
Reduces Stress During Transitions or Times of Change
It’s no secret that children with unique learning needs struggle when it comes to disruptions in their daily routine. By incorporating rules and routines with predictable transitions, your child may struggle less during stressful periods of unpredictable events, such as the arrival of a new sibling or, more universally, being quarantined at home due to COVID-19.
Promotes Confidence, Self-Esteem, and Independence
Once your child masters a routine, it will become clear to him or her that they have the skills and independence necessary to be successful at the tasks within those routines. Your child will feel valued because they are included in your daily plans and they’ll become more autonomous as they complete tasks that they know are expected of them.
Instead of always being told what needs to happen or forced to do something, your child will go ahead and put themselves in charge of their own actions. That’s great for self-esteem and for promoting independence, too.
Establishes Healthy Habits
Whether it’s making the time to brush their teeth or completing homework every afternoon, a routine can help your child develop constructive habits. Once your child gains mastery of these skills, they will be able to establish healthy habits that can be carried forth for a lifetime. A little bit of self-discipline goes a long way, but as you might guess, a child needs to be taught these healthy habits in order for them to stick later on in life.
Helps Everyone Remember Important Things
A daily routine isn’t just beneficial for your child – it’s also invaluable for you. As the parent or educator of a child with unique learning needs, there are all kinds of things that you need to keep track of. From weekly appointments to taking medicine to administering certain therapies, you’ve got a lot on your plate (and it goes without saying that your child does, too).
A routine will help everyone stay on top of what needs to be done. You can keep track of all the important details without getting overwhelmed or frustrated with each other.
Allows for Stability – But Also Excitement For What’s Ahead
Although a daily routine might sound anything but exhilarating, the reality is that it can be quite helpful when it comes to fostering excitement for the future. Do you look forward to the weekend? That’s probably because your routine includes things like Friday pizza night or Saturday morning sleep-ins. You get excited because you know that your schedule is going to allow you a treat or two!
The same goes for a child with unique learning needs. When activities in a routine are established, your child benefits in two ways. He benefits from stability and predictability, but also in being able to anticipate future events. Your child will feel like a loved member of the family, the community, and the world.
These “anticipated events” don’t have to be anything huge, either. You don’t need to schedule a trip to the amusement park every week in order to foster excitement. Instead, make time to build in daily rituals that your child loves, such as snuggling before bed or watching a favorite television show together after school. The little things matter!
Getting Started with a Daily Routine: A Few Quick Tips
When you’re trying to incorporate a new schedule or daily routine for your child with unique learning needs, you’re likely going to be met with your fair share of bumps in the road. Once certain habits are formed, it can be tough to break them.
However, as you can see, the benefits of establishing a daily routine for a child with autism are many, and there are lots of reasons to get started with building a predictable schedule today. If you’re thinking about introducing a new routine, continue using visual schedules that your child will be able to access and look at during every part of the day. This will help him keep track of what’s to come to help reduce his anxiety and prepare him for what lies ahead.
There are plenty of other ways you can get your child used to a new routine, too, such as social stories and role-playing activities. However, what’s most important is that you recognize the benefits of routine and do your best to incorporate a solid routine in your child’s day-to-day life. It will no doubt be a lifesaver for everyone involved!
For more detailed guidance, check out our step-by-step guide to building a daily schedule.
Further Reading
- University of Rochester Medical Center: Interacting with a Child Who Has Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Kara Hume, Ph.D.: Transition Time: Helping Individuals on the Autism Spectrum Move Successfully from One Activity to Another
- Life Skills Advocate: Step-by-Step Guide To Building A Daily Schedule