Guide to Supporting a SEN Child in the School Holidays

Most children look forward to the school summer holidays. However, children with ADHD and/or autism can struggle without the structure and routine provided by school. This means that the school holidays can be stressful, not just for children but for parents too. In our guide, we’ll provide you with our top tips to navigate the school holidays.

Maintain a routine

The challenge: Change in routine

Both children with ADHD and children with autism find it difficult to navigate change in routine. Children with autism thrive on predictability and can find changes to routine particularly distressing, while children with ADHD can struggle to plan and organise their time.

The solution: Stick to a routine

It’s important to stick to a routine or structure where possible. This should include maintaining the same time for waking up as well as a structured meal times schedule and bedtime routine to mimic the structure of school.

Preplan activities

The challenge: Managing expectations

Avoiding the unexpected is important for children with autism, as children with autism usually find surprises unsettling and disruptive. Surprises can result in anxiety, stress and can even cause an autistic meltdown.

Children with ADHD usually have increased needs for stimulation. Without planned activities, they can become restless quicker than other children. Boredom can amplify impulsive and hyperactive traits in children with ADHD, which can be difficult for parents to manage.

The solution: Visual planning

Creating a visual plan or calendar of activities, not only helps to build and solidify a sense of routine but also helps your child to feel more involved in any activities that are planned and provides a sense of structure.

Provide opportunities for social interaction

The challenge: Social skill regression

Social interactions are important for the overall development of your child, whether they have ADHD, Autism or are neurotypical. If your child does not have the opportunity for social interaction during the school holidays, they can experience skill regression when they return to school. Not experiencing social interactions can also build feelings of apprehension and anxiety when they return to school.

The solution: Planned social time

You can schedule social time for your child in a number of ways, whether that be through organised play dates with other children. Enrolment in community activities and child-friendly events or through extracurricular activities like sports clubs, performing arts, or music groups can help provide social activities with structure.

Monitor screen time

The challenge: Overstimulation

Prolonged screen time can cause overstimulation in all children. However, this can be amplified in children with ADHD and autism. The highly stimulating content of video games, social media and TV can exacerbate issues with self-regulation. It can be difficult for children to cope when screen time ends, causing explosive behaviour.

Excessive screen time can also lead to sensory overload, which can lead to increased stress levels. Managing screen time can help to manage the amount of sensory input that your child experiences.

The solution: Limiting screen time

Scheduling screen time, or using it as a reward are both strategies that can help to limit your child’s screen time, and manage their reactions to screen time ending. You should also monitor the content that your child is exposed to making sure that it consists of age-appropriate and high-quality content.

Communicate realistic expectations for holiday activities

The challenge: Managing expectations

Children with autism struggle with communication and, as a result, can take things literally. This is why it’s essential that you communicate realistic expectations for holiday activities. Transitioning between activities can be difficult for children with ADHD and Autism, creating resistance and frustration.

You may have holidays, trips and activities planned over the summer holidays, such as going to the zoo or taking a trip to the beach. While this can be fun for most children, children with autism may find the unpredictability stressful but respond well when they know what to expect.

The solution: Communicate expectations

Communicating what to expect during each activity will not only help your child feel more involved but also help ease any anxiety they have about each activity. When you communicate your expectations, you should include your expectations for their behaviour and experiences as well as timings, who will be there, how long it will take and what will happen.

You should be clear and specific about what will happen during the activity to make the experience more manageable for your child. It can be helpful to provide reassurance that it’s okay if things don’t go perfectly so your child knows you are there to support them.

Schedule quiet time

The problem: Sensory overload

Children with ADHD and autism can both experience sensory overload. Taking time away from sensory stimuli can prevent your child from being overstimulated or overwhelmed and gives them the opportunity to reset.

The solution: Create a calm, quiet place

A designated calm and quiet place, away from sensory distractions, can help keep your child calm and relaxed. It’s important they know that quiet time is important and how it can make them feel better. This can help your child to recognise when they need a break from overstimulating activities and environments and self-regulate.

How can The Autism Service help?

Here at the Autism Service, we understand how important it is to have access to the support you need for your child. If your child experiences traits associated with ADHD or autism, it’s important to make sure you’re equipped with the tools you need to manage your child’s needs. The first step towards finding the help you need is an assessment. Find out more about our Child Autism Assessments and Child ADHD Assessments today.