Everybody, not just children, struggles with transitions to a certain extent. Think about the times you changed jobs or had to move to a new neighborhood. You may have felt anxious, a bit confused, and lost. The less familiar the new place was, the harder the transition was. You learned to adapt, however. That is one of the skills that most adults eventually learn how to deal with because transitions are a natural part of our lives. Children and transitions may often have a tenuous relationship, especially for children who have autism. Helping children with transitions must first start with understanding exactly where the problem lies. If your child has transition issues, please reach out to our team at Camp Worth today at 855.915.2545.
Indications of Transition Issues
The challenge of children and transitions can often look like nothing more than a child acting out because they want to continue an activity. This may be true if the activity that you’re asking them to leave is fun, and the new one they dislike. For those with autism, this is only a small piece of the puzzle. Helping children with transitions may be necessary throughout their childhood and into adulthood. Does your child always seem to meltdown with every transition? Do they have difficulty with even leaving home to attend a fun event? This last might be one of the best indications of an issue. Let’s take a look at what could be causing the problem.
The Need For Consistency
Autism with children and transitions problems are often connected. These children need to have consistency, and autism therapy programs can help. Life is often very confusing. A combination of symptoms and a lack of communication ability can result in feeling overwhelmed, especially if the transition is sudden. A lack of consistency makes a confusing world even more so.
Undeveloped Reward System
When you require your child to transfer attention from a loved activity to one that is less desirable, you may face unique challenges. The reward system of a child with autism may be less developed than that of other children and is definitely less developed than an adult’s. Being required to stop a rewarding activity that is totally engaging can be frustrating.
Anxiety
Many children with anxiety fear change. They have found a spot of comfort, and not knowing what might happen at the next activity can cause anxiety to increase. Rather than face something that scares them, children will hold onto what is safe and familiar. By giving warnings in advance, you can alleviate some of this fear.
Sensory Processing Issues
Children with sensory processing issues find the world a very unfriendly and confusing place. The problems with children and transitions that are caused by sensory issues boil down to trying to keep things as predictable and low-key as possible. The child has found their comfort spot where the sensory issues are calm. The next place may see a resurgence of overstimulation that they try desperately to avoid.
Help Is Available at Camp Worth
Your adolescent with autism may have always had issues with transitions. As they get older and transitions become more frequent, the child may start acting out more and more often. Here at Camp Worth, we help your child learn how to deal with the difficulty that transitions can cause. Because we base our program on as much routine and consistency as possible, gradually learning to accept the need to transition becomes easier. We offer a range of treatment options, including:
- Medication management
- Food and nutrition program
- Counseling and behavior analysis program
- Autism parent training program
It takes time, and many people with autism may always struggle a bit more than others. If you need help with an adolescent with autism, reach out to us at 855.915.2545 and see what we can do to help you navigate these challenges.
