Maintain a structured routine to help reduce stress; stress can trigger OCD
Keep kiddos hydrated and engage them in regular physical activity
Teach your child to practice Grace with themselves and others. Like scripts, acronyms are very helpful to individuals on the Spectrum – Give: Respect, Admiration, Courtesy, and Empathy
Provide your child with a safe sensory space in the home that they can control – If space is at a premium, get creative, a tent on the bed or a closet will do
Teach them to take time out to breathe deeply – 4 seconds in – 4 seconds hold – 4 seconds out
Provide your child with transition time and structure- be available to listen – consistently praise and reassure them.
Remember trigger avoidance is not a cure, it is a temporary fix, don’t stop there. Teach your child the T.R.A.U.M.A. acronym to help them work through the Trauma –
Trigger Timeout: Give yourself a moment,
Remove: Step away or distance yourself from the trigger,
Accept your body’s response,
Understand: You are responding to a past event – the physical response will pass
Management Mindset: Recruit a friend or a sensory tool to help you tolerate triggers
Advantage Action: Develop a plan to work through or around your trigger moments
Never Lead with Lack – Lead your child strengths first – Engage your child with positive questions about what things they enjoy and help them discover what they do well
Forceful parents find fault – Powerful parents see possibility – Choose Power
10 Hacks for School
Plan to meet with your child’s teacher or caregiver prior to enrollment to open the door to collaboration
Implement an IEP or 504 as soon as possible, ASD can be diagnosed as early as 24 months, early identification is key
Encourage your child to ask for help and self-advocate
Suggest your child ask a teacher to have lunch in their classroom to avoid a crowd
Advocate for seating in the front of the classroom (sometimes trigger avoidance is as easy as “Out of sight, out of mind”)
Create a Go-To plan for managing triggers and stressors at school
Make sure you get your child to school on time and encourage them to follow the school schedule
Role play social interactions with your child, focusing on eye contact, and shared experiences
Document difficult days to assist with identifying triggers
Plan 10 minutes in every school day with you and your child for a recap of school events and listen carefully
