Supporting austistic kids over the summer
In this video, Deiera Bennett describes that overwhelm is a common problem autistic kids face over the summer since they lack the structure of school and offers suggestions for how parents can help.
Transcript
If your child is showing heightened emotional responses in the afternoon, boredom that quickly turns into intense feelings, um, rigidity about things that seem small, and withdrawing, then they're probably experiencing overwhelm. Overwhelm during the summer is an ambiguity problem, not a behavior problem.
Your child is lacking that structure that school provides, and when the brain doesn't know what's next, it treats that uncertainty as a threat, and that's what can trigger those, um, behaviors that you're seeing.
So what can you do? First, practice co-regulation. This looks like, uh, sitting with them, keeping your voice calm, validating their feelings, and helping them feel safe.Next, say something like, "It looks like you're experiencing a lot right now. Do you want company or do you want space?" This removes the pressure of asking them to explain what's wrong while still showing support.
This is just one of the scenarios we cover in our free Social Cipher Parent Guide. Check it out and let us know if there are any other scenarios you want us to explore.
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