Avoid bright colors and patterned walls, which are highly stimulating. Less is more when it comes to furniture too. Children with autism tend to prefer clean, organized spaces over visually-cluttered rooms.
Choose fabrics that appeal to him and are soft and snuggly: cotton, flannel, sateen, or t-shirt materials. Consider patterns and prints that are fun but not overly stimulating. Weighted blankets and heavy comforters can support sleep patterns because they provide deep touch pressure sensory input.
Choose Relaxing Colors
Bright hues like reds, oranges and yellows may be over stimulate the mind of a child with autism. Warm, neutral shades and tones of blue, green and purple are better suited to the bedroom colors scheme. These colors are comforting and soothing. You can also use shades of soft grey.
What is a sensory room? A sensory room or sensory integration room is designed to provide calm, focus, and comfort to people with sensory processing problems, which often includes people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Children on the spectrum may be hyper-sensitive to harsh lighting, strong odors, and loud music.
Choose Calming Colors
If your child is sensory sensitive, bright and bold colors may not be the best for a bedroom. Opt for hues that promote calm and tranquility, such as navy, soft blue, lavender, sage green, or gray.
Red should never be used in the home as children with ASD perceive the color as florescent. Yellows likewise are very stimulating and are best to avoid. Greens, blues, pinks, soft oranges and neutrals can be very comforting. Keeping the colors muted, these tones can quiet the mind and create calm.
As you've seen, living spaces can become extremely cluttered when a person has trouble parting with his or her favorite “stuff.” It's also very common for people with autism to become extremely distressed if others rearrange or throw away their items.
A softly lit space is a more relaxing environment for children with autism. This is because bright lights can cause overstimulation of the nervous system. So pick somewhere that is not too bright. Try using shades over the windows, a teepee or tent to go inside or include mood lighting with a lamp or night light.
With autism, it's all about the kind of touch that the child is seeking. Some children who don't like hugs or cuddling really love roughhousing.
Most parents with an autistic child will be told about the importance of having a safe space at home. It's true, it is very important but don't panic! No one expects you to go building new rooms or adding a whole new wing to your house. You don't have to dedicate a whole room for a safe space.
A separate room can also be very effective to help individuals with ASD 'integrate sensory experiences and gain a sense of themselves as actors in the world' (Jordan 2001, p116).
Children with an ASD are not vigilant and do not look up to the caregiver for social referencing. They may not cling to the caregiver, although go up to them for succor. However, some cling to the caregiver because of extreme anxiety.
Most children with autism experience some type of sleep problems due to sensory overload and other issues. They often find sleeping on the floor more comforting than laying in bed.
Autistic children can have particular sleep and settling problems, including: irregular sleeping and waking patterns – for example, lying awake until very late or waking very early in the morning. sleeping much less than expected for their age, or being awake for more than an hour during the night.
Too much information. Sometimes an autistic person may behave in a way that you wouldn't immediately link to sensory differences. A person who finds it difficult to process everyday sensory information can experience sensory overload, or information overload.
Your child's bedroom: Children with autism have a tendency to wander in the middle of the night. Secure his room by locking the door from the outside or placing a baby gate at the door. Though it may feel like you are imprisoning your child, this is for his safety and best interest.
One of the most common forms of anxiety in children with autism is separation anxiety. Many children on the spectrum suffer from this type of anxiety, and it can be especially difficult to work with your child to reduce its negative effects.
Children with autism are more likely to experience bedwetting than their neurotypical peers, and there are several factors that may contribute to this. It is important for parents to be aware of this connection and to seek support if their child is struggling with bedwetting.
The average age in which a child is successfully toileting was 3.3 years of age for children with autism in comparison to 2.5 years of age for children with other developmental disabilities (Williams, Oliver, Allard, & Sears, 2003).
(ASD). There are many reasons why it can take a long time. Many children with ASD learn to use the toilet at a late age. Most children with ASD learn to urinate and have bowel movements in the toilet later than other children (Tsai, Stewart, & August, 1981).
Sensory issues with food: Kids on the autism spectrum often express a strong preference for foods that feel a certain way in their mouths. Some prefer soft or creamy foods like yogurt, soup or ice cream; others need the stimulation that crunchy foods like Cheetos or — if a parent is lucky, carrots — provide.
Blue “Forget-me-not” flower to raise awareness for the needs of people with autism.