Quarantine for an Autistic Child
Like most people, we are staying home full-time due to COVID-19. As some of you may already know, MJ was diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum at about 18 months. We had an inkling before the official diagnosis so we planned our life accordingly, while trying to keep disruption to our daughters' lives to a minimum.
One of my biggest worries during this quarantine has been how he would react to staying home and no longer having his routine of waking up, getting ready for school, and heading out. He is non-verbal so I don't know what's going through his mind about this or how he feels about being home for this long. He loved our walks and bus rides to school, wearing his backpack, carrying his lunch bag, and looking at trees and cars along the way. Now that things seem to be getting better where we are, we have been able to go out on walks around the neighborhood. Seeing all the familiar places and people makes him happy, which makes me happy. Also, having a backyard has been a fantastic privilege and we have been spending lots of time back there.
Even with our walks and fun out in the yard, we have noticed some regression. Teletherapy, while going well at first, has become a bit more difficult. We still get through the sessions but it takes a lot of redirecting, and at times even bribing. I don't like bringing children, especially those on the spectrum, because it teaches them that they will get a treat if they do something they're supposed to do. I would rather reward them with a high-five or a "great job!"
So, I spent countless hours online looking up cool activities for him to do and ordering books on amazon. These books have helped us keep MJ on track with some of the things he was learning at school. Our routines in the morning stayed the same, but instead of walking to the bus and school, we would take a small stroll in the house or the yard before coming to the living room to the table we set up for him to do some school work. We kept to the school's routine, with breakfast at 9 am and lunch at noon, so that there wasn't such a bigchange. We also bought a laminator which allowed us to laminate worksheets for him.
We have him use a whiteboard marker for tracing alphabets, numbers, and shapes. Some things could be going smoother, of course. Sometimes he throws a tantrum, knowing that I am his mom and not his teacher. His school has been incredibly supportive during this time. The therapist who works with him is always there when we have questions or concerns. His teacher has been amazing. She sends us activities to do with him, and if we need anything, we can always call or send her a text. I am a bit sad that this is his last year with her.
For the upcoming school year, we have opted to homeschool him. There are many reasons, but that's for another post. Here are the books I mentioned earlier. Hopefully, if you're having any issues or need resources, these books can help.
The Social Story Book- By Carol Gray
Yoga Therapy for Children with Autism and Special Needs by Louise Goldberg
B is for Breathing by Melissa Munro
Occupational Therapy Activities by Heather Ajzenman OTD OTR/L HPCS
Special People Special Ways by Arlene Maguire
