Guide to creating a morning routine for your child with autism

Children with autism benefit tremendously from schedules, repeatability, habits, and routines. Because of this, having a morning routine for your child can be the difference between how they perceive morning routines and the rest of the day as well.

Of course, this means that morning routines are extremely important and beneficial in helping your child develop. Because of this, it’s highly suggested to develop a routine for your child and encourage them to follow it, and help out and assist with any aspects they struggle with.

Are morning routines good for children with autism?

Routines are extremely beneficial for children with autism. Because children with autism suffer from overstimulation, having routines set for them is an easy way to help them excel without being distressed by inconsistency and overstimulation.

All children benefit from predictability, but children with autism benefit even more so than other children. Because predictability and stability are key, children with autism will perform much better with a strictly adhered to schedule than without one.

Keep in mind that all routines, not just morning routines, are beneficial for your children. Because of this, it can be important to establish routines for other aspects of their life as well, including mealtime, other aspects such as activities, and more.

How to create a daily routine for children with autism

It’s important to understand exactly how to create a daily routine for children with autism. First and foremost, it’s good to remember that medical experts will be able to successfully guide you through any struggles you may have with routine development.

Because medical experts go through training specifically to help and assist children with autism in pattern development and improving aspects of their life to make it easier for them, these professionals are best suited to guide and assist parents or guardians with any questions they may have.

With that being said, other ways to create daily routines for your children include common routine-making techniques, with several changes made in order to better assist autism-related issues specifically.

Keep in mind that these routines work best when you work closely with your child. Children are in constant need of support and reinforcement, but children with autism need this to a higher degree. Because of this, being an attentive parent is key.

If your child is left to their own devices, they may find following the schedule or routine hard. It’s important to closely assist your child throughout their morning, at least during the establishment period of the routine.

Another important aspect of creating a daily routine for your children is making the routine fun and engaging. 

Keep in mind that mental stimulation on the specific aspect of the routine is needed in order to keep the child engaged properly.

5 steps to creating a morning schedule for your child

We’ve come up with 5 steps to creating a morning schedule for your child with autism. 

The 5 steps to creating a morning schedule for your child are:

1. Determine what activities to include - Firstly, determine what activities to include in your schedule. By doing this, you should find activities that should be in your morning routine. You should include activities that you know your child is comfortable with, as well as one or two activities that you would like to implement within the schedule.
2. Brainstorm ways to make these activities fun and engaging - By doing so, you will engage your child and make them interested and engaged in your morning routine.
3. Create a schedule with rough times - Now it’s time to put your schedule on paper - write down your schedule, plan it out, and include all the information which you desire in order to successfully plan your schedule.
4. Implement the schedule - Next, you can begin the implementation of your schedule for your child. Remember to keep engaged and active in the schedule of your children. You are responsible for making sure that your child is successfully following and succeeding with the schedule.
5. Revise the schedule for success - Of course, it’s important to revise your schedule depending on anything you may wish to change and improve about the schedule. If needed, seeking professional medical help and consultation can be useful.

Do schedules help children with autism?

Yes, schedules absolutely help children with autism. It’s important to realize that children with autism face challenges from overstimulation. Because of this - and because overstimulation can lead to struggles for your child, schedules are incredibly important.

The reason for this is that schedules create consistency, and remove the overstimulation caused by very overwhelming daily changes which can cause issues for your child. Schedules and routines are helpful for children with autism in knowing what to expect.

Removing overstimulation and implementing order for your child will allow them to focus on singular aspects of their daily life - which they view as incredibly complex and overwhelming - one at a time. This, in turn, can create many benefits for the child which include the ability to understand and engage in activities that they would not otherwise be able to engage in if they did not have a schedule or routine guide.

What to keep in mind when creating a morning routine

Overall, a morning routine guide for your child with autism is going to be incredibly beneficial for them, making mornings easier for them, making their daily schedule easier for them, and allowing them to engage in activities that they normally may not be comfortable engaging in.

A morning routine can set the standard for the remainder of the day, allowing your child access to their mental capacity without creating an environment of challenge that may overwhelm them with excessive events and overstimulation.