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17101 Preston Road, Suite 110
Dallas, TX 75248
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Schedule Your Appointment
Our Location
17101 Preston Road, Suite 110
Dallas, TX 75248
For parenting tips and information!
How the COVID-19 Pandemic is Impacting Children with Autism
December 14, 2020
How the COVID-19 Pandemic is Impacting Children with Autism
The COVID-19 is causing disruptions in many people's lives. It has shut down schools and businesses, causing children and adults to change their routines. Students are completing online learning sessions with Zoom calls for live instruction and parents are trying to juggle working from home while helping their children with their schoolwork. The routine of almost every American has been disrupted and new routines were needed.
When it comes to a change in routine, children with autism often find this a challenge and may exhibit strong resistance. The closures of schools and other facilities where children attend on a daily basis can cause additional tension. Since the COVID-19 pandemic has drastically disrupted and altered routines of children with autism triggering meltdowns and aggression, it is important to find new ways for families with children with autism to adapt.
Accommodating Our Loved Ones with Autism During A Pandemic
Introduce new daily routines/structure.
Since your child's school may be closed, it is important to create new daily routines and structure. These routines should be predictable to alleviate stress and anxiety within your child. Visual schedules are a great tool as well as social stories as these help children understand what is happening and what they should do.
Be patient. Do not expect them to immediately take on new routines. Learning online and being bound to the house may be difficult for your children. If your child has sensory sensitivities, it may be difficult to get them to wear a mask. Remember to be patient with them and with yourself.
Let your child self-stimulate. This is a stressful time for everyone, and you would never want someone judging you for your binge-watching behaviors right now. Children with autism often find ways to self-stimulate such as using a fidget toy or spinner, rocking, or hand-flapping. As long as they are self-regulating and not hurting themselves, allow your child to self-soothe.
Introduce a rule/rules. Your child may be overwhelmed by what they hear about COVID-19 and the pandemic which may lead to the same question being asked. It's important to answer these questions honestly and without causing fear. If your child continues asking the same questions, create a rule that they can only ask these questions after a meal and set a time limit like 3-5 minutes.
Practice hand washing. Since hand washing is one of the best ways of prevention it's important to teach the best techniques. Make a list of the steps and start teaching them. This may start with you showing your child using hand over hand techniques and working your way to reducing your help and allowing them to do this on their own. Provide social rewards when your child has mastered washing their hands. Use an hourglass, timer, or sing a song to teach them how long you should wash your hands.
Provide physical activity. This is especially important if your child is energetic. Exercise and movement are important and can help many children with autism to self-regulate.
Be patient. Do not expect them to immediately take on new routines. Learning online and being bound to the house may be difficult for your children. If your child has sensory sensitivities, it may be difficult to get them to wear a mask. Remember to be patient with them and with yourself.
Let your child self-stimulate. This is a stressful time for everyone, and you would never want someone judging you for your binge-watching behaviors right now. Children with autism often find ways to self-stimulate such as using a fidget toy or spinner, rocking, or hand-flapping. As long as they are self-regulating and not hurting themselves, allow your child to self-soothe.
Introduce a rule/rules. Your child may be overwhelmed by what they hear about COVID-19 and the pandemic which may lead to the same question being asked. It's important to answer these questions honestly and without causing fear. If your child continues asking the same questions, create a rule that they can only ask these questions after a meal and set a time limit like 3-5 minutes.
Practice hand washing. Since hand washing is one of the best ways of prevention it's important to teach the best techniques. Make a list of the steps and start teaching them. This may start with you showing your child using hand over hand techniques and working your way to reducing your help and allowing them to do this on their own. Provide social rewards when your child has mastered washing their hands. Use an hourglass, timer, or sing a song to teach them how long you should wash your hands.
Provide physical activity. This is especially important if your child is energetic. Exercise and movement are important and can help many children with autism to self-regulate.
Contact Us
At the Beckloff Behavioral Health Center, serving the Dallas, TX area, we provide counseling services and educational development for children, teens, families, and adults. Regardless of age, our staff works alongside those with anxiety, mood issues, anger, depression, and behavioral concerns.
We also work with students with autism, ADHD, and other neurobiological differences. Through our assessments, including ADHD assessments, we find the individual needs of our clients and create individually tailored treatment plans to promote enhanced self-understanding, acceptance, and creativity. We offer child therapy services including play therapy, ADHD behavior therapy, and more.
If your child with autism is having a difficult time processing and coping with the pandemic, contact our team. We can help promote a more adaptive and enriching life experience.
We also work with students with autism, ADHD, and other neurobiological differences. Through our assessments, including ADHD assessments, we find the individual needs of our clients and create individually tailored treatment plans to promote enhanced self-understanding, acceptance, and creativity. We offer child therapy services including play therapy, ADHD behavior therapy, and more.
If your child with autism is having a difficult time processing and coping with the pandemic, contact our team. We can help promote a more adaptive and enriching life experience.
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Watching your child struggle with the changes that come with divorce can be heart-wrenching. They might feel lost, anxious, or even blame themselves. Post-divorce counseling can help address these feelings, providing a safe space for children to express their emotions and learn coping mechanisms. This blog post will explore how post-divorce counseling can support your child, ease the transition, and help children find stability and peace. How Does Divorce Affect Your Children? The effects of divorce on your children may vary based on their age, personality, and the circumstances surrounding the separation. Some common reactions your kids may experience include: ● Grief and Loss: They may experience a sense of loss and grief over the separation of their parents. They may feel like their family is breaking apart, and they may worry about what the future holds. ● Anxiety and Fear: Your kids may worry about where they will live, who will care for them, and if you and your ex will stop loving them. ● Anger and Frustration: Your children may feel angry and frustrated about family changes. They may direct this anger toward one or both parents, or they may act out in other ways. ● Guilt and Blame: Some children blame themselves for their parents' divorce, thinking that they did something to cause it. They may also feel guilty for wanting to spend time with one parent over the other. ● Difficulty with Transitions: Your children may struggle with transitions between your home or your ex’s, which can be stressful and disruptive to their routine. They may also need help adjusting to new rules and expectations in each household. How Can Post Divorce Counseling Benefit Your Children? Post-divorce counseling can be beneficial for your children in several ways: 1. Post-divorce therapy provides a safe and non-judgmental environment for children to express their feelings about the divorce. This can help them process their emotions and cope with the changes in their family. 2. Counseling can help children understand why their parents divorced and what it means for their family. This can give them a sense of closure and help them accept the new reality. 3. Post-divorce counseling can help them develop healthy coping strategies to manage their emotions and deal with any difficulties that may arise. 4. A therapist can help children maintain a positive relationship with both parents, even after divorce. This can be especially helpful for children who may feel caught in their parents' conflicts. 5. Counseling can help children learn how to communicate effectively with their parents and express their needs and concerns. This can improve their relationships and help them feel more heard and understood. Emotional Support for Children Post Divorce in Dallas, TX Beckloff Behavioral Health Center in Dallas, TX, offers comprehensive counseling and assessment services for all ages, including specialized support for children from divorced families. Our child counseling services focus on helping children adjust to new circumstances, such as living arrangements, schools, visitation schedules, and potential new household members. We understand that these changes can be challenging, even for kids. Our goal is to support them in coping with, managing, and ultimately thriving through these transitions. Book an appointment with us today.
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In addition to in-office appointments, we also offer virtual telehealth sessions.
Contact us to learn more.