The daily tasks of parenting a child with autism can be exhausting and time-consuming. In my home, morning used to be the most chaotic time of day. The last thing I wanted was to start the day stressed out, so I decided to make some changes in hopes of making my mornings run smoothly.
I tried many things with varying degrees of success. What I found to work the best (at least for us) were these 4 tasks that are now a standard part of our routine.
- Make a letter template for daily communication with your child’s teacher or therapists.
oDaily communication and record keeping is critical, so make the task effort free with a fill in the blank template that you can quickly complete on your way out the door. - Help your child hang complete outfits on clothes hangers.
oBy doing this, your child can easily and independently choose their own outfit and you don’t have to worry – you’ll know they have a complete, weather appropriate outfit to where (and it matches!) - Prepare for morning the evening before
oIn the evening, have your child prepare for morning. They can choose their clothes, pack their school bags, make their lunch and even set the table for breakfast. - Eliminate the electronics
oWithout the distraction of television, game playing stations or computers, your child will be able to focus more on the morning routine. Take advantage of extra time by going outside or reading a book.
Be creative! Take into consideration your child’s interests and abilities when planning or organizing daily tasks. Remember to include your child in everything you do. Encouraging your child to make choices and become more organized does more then save time; it helps you build autonomy and independence in your childalso!
Have a great idea or tip to help save time and energy?Let us know by posting it below or sharing it in the forum.
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