| Bedtime Rituals | | Print | |
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By Laurie Hopkins, MS,OTR As we head into the holiday season with so much excitement and hub-bub the challenge of modulating sensory input can become even more pronounced for those with ASD who have sensory processing issues.Winding down for bedtime at the end of the day can be an area of particular challenge even without the holiday frenzy in the air.Here are some tips that might help your child begin to slow his or her engine down in preparation for sleep.Mix, match and trial the strategies that seem appropriate for your family’s schedule in the evening:
Consider starting the bedtime routine earlier than one typically might, knowing that your child will most likely require extra time to unwind.Headlining is always helpful especially if a high preference activity like video or computer needs to be turned off for the routine to begin. Many children respond positively to a visual schedule when processing information. Incorporate situations where lighting can be dimmed and sounds minimized in terms of volume and pace Identify activities that help to quiet and soothe your child.For instance a warm bath, bedtime story, back rub or lotion massage (but not tickles or jumping on the bed, as this revs up the nervous system. Just getting under layers of blankets can be calming even without a weighted blanket. Reading stories that are specifically about children or young animals going to bed Be aware of your own voice volume and cadence.This would not be the time for loud, excited, bursts of song and words, but rather calm quiet soothing utterances. Playing soft quiet background music without words can be helpful.There are CDs produced specifically to facilitate brain wave changes to induce a quieter mental state. Add anything that you know helps to quiet your child in having them shift from an alert active state to a quieter and hopefully sleepier state.
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