A Positively Moving Experience
Moving with an Autistic Child
Moving with an Autistic Child
Preparing for a move can be challenging. Whether you’re preparing for a short move across town, or a huge trek across the country, the process can feel hectic and tiring. Between dealing with the details and arranging the plans for the transition, it’s also important to focus on your autistic child.
According to the CDC’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network, one in every 68 children has been identified with an autism spectrum disorder. Parents of autistic children understand that change can be even harder for their children and it’s vital that they know how to handle the atmosphere around them. Here are some tips to make moving day easier for the whole family.
1. Prepare well in advance
Before telling your child about the move, get as many details in order as you can for the family. Take plenty of time to look for homes or apartments so you’re as stress-free as possible.
2. Present the move in a positive light
When it’s time to tell your autistic child about the move, maintain the conversation in a positive light. If they ask why, talk about how one parent will be closer to a job and will get to spend more time with them now.
3. Talk about what it will involve
If your autistic child is curious to know what will happen during the move, give them a time frame. Get a calendar and show the number of days between now and the moving day. Consider giving them a short list of tasks to focus on before the move.
4. Take it step by step
Chances are, your autistic child will take some adjusting to a new place. Before moving day, take him or her to see the home. Simply ride or walk by the home to view it from the outside. Before moving day, go in for a short visit just to walk through it together.
5. Take some pictures
Take a few pictures of the empty apartment or house. Show them to your child and talk about what the new living room, kitchen and bathroom will be like. Discuss what you’ll do with a bigger backyard or what it will be like being closer to the park.
6. Help them pack
Packing up can be stressful for everyone in the family. Make sure you set aside enough time to help them pack their belongings so they can keep their stress level to a minimum during the moving process. If your child becomes tired or upset with packing, give them plenty of breaks to do something else.
7. Keep the consistency
Keep your child’s schedule as consistent as possible during the moving week. If they become stressed, let them know that all of their things will still be there, but in a different home. When you open their boxes, set up the new bedroom the same way their old bedroom was arranged before.
Children with autism can feel upset when big changes occur in their lives. However, with the right amount of preparation and patience, it doesn’t have to be disruptive.
