How to make activity transitions easier for children with autism

It is not uncommon for children to struggle with transitions between activities, and those with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are even more likely to experience difficulties when prompted to shift gears. Many individuals with ASD feel most comfortable with predictable and consistent routines, and disruption to this may trigger behavioral resistance and dysregulation.

Whether you’re having trouble with your child transitioning between playing with their favorite toy and getting ready for bed, or with preparing to leave the house and visit a new place, the following strategies can help them feel more comfortable and prepared to tackle upcoming changes in routine:

Provide visual and auditory reminders

Set a pre-determined time limit on an activity and share that information with your child. Consider starting a visual countdown timer so your child can see the amount of time remaining for a particular activity. As the transition time approaches, let your child know how many minutes they have left and that it will soon be time to move on to the next activity.

Write out or draw schedules

Create a visual schedule with images and text so your child can easily see what is coming next. Talk through the schedule with them and utilize “first-then” language, such as “First you need to brush your teeth, then you can play with toys.”

To support flexibility, make pieces of the visual schedule magnetic or Velcro so they can be easily rearranged. When possible, provide your child with choices regarding the daily order of activities to instill a sense of autonomy and contribution, such as “Would you like to go outside before or after lunch today?”

Prepare for upcoming changes in routine

Despite efforts to maintain structure and consistency, not every day can (or should) unfold the same. To help your child cope with these inevitable changes, consider using social stories, pictures or videos of what might happen during the new activity to help your child process and understand the novel experience. If possible, practice going to the unfamiliar place and easing your child into spending time there – whether it’s a new school building, a family member’s home, or an outing to a store or restaurant.

Build in time for breaks

To avoid feeling rushed and frustrated, consider including buffers in your family’s daily schedule. Breaks between activities can remove potential time pressure or stress from the situation and help to create a calm environment in which your child is more likely to positively respond.

Incorporate frequent positive feedback

While teaching new skills, it is important to provide ample positive praise to increase the likelihood that your child will continue tolerating transitions and routine changes in the future. Be sure to specifically outline the behaviors that you are praising, such as, “Great job cleaning up your toys right away when the timer went off” or “I love how brave you were visiting somewhere new today. Way to go!”

Change can be hard for us all. By supporting your child with autism, you can help to give them the best opportunity to successfully navigate changes and transitions in routine that occur.

Dr. Taylor Dorlack is a pediatric clinical psychologist at Advocate Children’s Hospital.