Autism and Quarantine: Tips To Manage Daily Routine
Covid-19 has set the world under quarantine. For children on the autism spectrum, this represents a big disruption in schedules and therefore an open door for stress.
Today, we will share with you a few tips to ease stress and create a daily routine that is fun for the whole family.
HOW TO MANAGE THE DAILY ROUTINE
One of our first pieces of advice is to create a routine that is “similar” to the one your child normally has but with adaptations to be managed all indoors. Here are some key points to consider:
Wake Up Routine
- Waking up time: Make an effort to wake up your child slightly later than he/she normally does. Of course, they can sleep longer, but make sure that it is not more than an hour than they normally do.
- Breakfast: If they eat their breakfast at school, make sure to offer them similar choices to what they are offered there.
- Hygiene routines: This must remain the same to avoid meltdowns when quarantine is over. For example with tooth–brushing or hair brushing.
Home School Time
- Have a schedule: Make sure to start school at the time every day and to offer them a recess, in the middle of it. If possible, try to maintain the same hours that they are normally used to.
- Learning resources: Most schools offer online programs for quarantine. In case that your school is not offering this, “Learn from home” has good, free options for you.
- Sports: Since PE is key to your child’s development, we highly encourage you to make it a part of your daily schedule. Easter egg hunts, playing with bubbles, or setting an obstacle race are great ideas to keep them active.
Extra-curricular Activities
- Visit the Zoo: All public places are closed, but this does not impede your child to enjoy some fun. Some zoos have created a virtual tour that families can enjoy for free. The following zoos offer a virtual guided tour that will ensure fun and entertainment for your little ones.
- Visit a Museum: If your children are a little older, a museum tour can be interesting too! These 12 museums offer free virtual tours and can be incredible choices to learn and have fun.
Friends and Interaction
- Video Calls: Having a Zoom call, or a video conference can be a great way to have social interaction. Allowing your children to video call their grandparents or their friends from school is necessary and it can do wonders to lift your child’s mood.
Family Time
- Fun Activities: It is important to integrate the whole family and have fun together. Building a fort with boxes, making a tent with the blankets, reading your children a book or story, or even turning off the lights and with the help of a lamp making shadow games are great ways to have fun together as a family.
We understand that having yourself and your children in quarantine can be challenging. However, we want to remind you that you are not alone and that we are here to answer all your questions related to autism, covid-19, prevention, stem cells and more. Feel free to contact us in the comment section!
At WSCC, we offer support for autistic families and their children with Stem Cell Therapy treatments that can transform autistic conditions by healing the gut, decreasing inflammation and improving brain function. We also created an autistic community on Facebook that is destined to offer support and companionship for ASD parents and their families on their journey.
Remember, you are not alone!
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