The Trouble With Transitions - And How ABA Therapy Can Help

May is an exciting time of the year! We’re right on the brink of summer, watching the grass turn greener and the sun grow warmer. Along with that, the school year is winding down, with anticipation of fun, relaxing days ahead. But while many of us look forward to the changing of seasons, these change-ups can create difficulty for some.

Transitions are a tricky subject for children with autism, with the uncertainty of a situation bringing increased anxiety and stress. When a school year comes to an end, routines become upended. As your child grapples with a change in their day to day schedule, they are also saying good-bye to their teacher and peers that they’ve spent the last several months with. Suddenly the world they have become accustomed to is changing, and without the predictability they have come to know, children may struggle or regress.

The good news is that ABA therapy offers proven strategies that make transitions easier to manage, easing into them in a way that’s not as overwhelming as a sudden change can be.

Why Transitions Are Difficult For Autistic Children

Transitions can be difficult for all children - and even adults - but they tend to affect autistic children more drastically. Children with autism thrive on predictability and routine, feeling comfort in the known. Transitions create a shift in focus and expectations, and with no warning can create a high level of anxiety. This anxiety is brought on by:

• Uncertainty: Not knowing what to expect.

• Routine Change: Changing of typical patterns can be disorienting.

• Sensory Overload: New environments - such as daycare or a vacation - bring new sounds, smells and sights that can create overstimulation.

• Emotional Attachment: It can be difficult to say good-bye to teachers, therapists and friends when the time comes.

Using ABA Therapy For A Smoother Summer Transition

Although transitions can be difficult, they can be helped with methods learned through ABA (Applied Behavioral Analysis) Therapy. Following a basic principle of ABA, transitions can be better managed by breaking down the larger concept into smaller, easier to digest steps. Some ways you can incorporate ABA therapy strategies to support upcoming seasonal changes include:

• Visual Schedules: Providing a visual can help your child better understand what’s to come. This can look a variety of ways, depending on what works best for your family, and may include a countdown calendar, a daily picture schedule or a first/then board. Create a summer schedule before the changes come to talk about it with your child as a lead-up to the change.

• Practice Runs: Throughout ABA, it’s not uncommon to practice or “rehearse” certain situations to acclimate the child to something new. This can work along with seasonal transitions as well, planning to visit a new daycare before their start date or talking about and practicing a new activity ahead of time. Providing a slow drip of new information can help familiarize your child with the new scenarios to help ease that fear of the unknown they may be feeling.

• Social Stories: Create simple, personalized short stories to tell your child about an upcoming event or change in a way they will best understand. Use the story to describe an activity, location or event that is upcoming, setting expectations along the way.

• Positive Reinforcement: ABA encourages positive reinforcement, using milestones and rewards to build confidence in the child. Create your own reward system to celebrate and reinforce successful transitions, even if they are small.

• Task Analysis: ABA Therapy works to break transitions into smaller steps, giving the child a chance to feel empowered at each small success. This not only boosts confidence, but works to prepare the child for the transition in a more manageable way. Instead of diving straight into something new, breaking the change into steps can help ease into it while making the child feel included. As an example, if your child will spend a week with their grandparents during the summer, steps may look like: choosing what clothes to bring, packing their bag, choosing a favorite snack to bring, and so on.

A Sweeter Segue Into Summer with ABA Therapy

Love them or hate them, there’s no denying that transitions are just part of life. Transitions may never be easy for someone with autism, but they can be easier. With preparation and practice, transitions can become less daunting. The tools of ABA therapy can help empower children with better ways to handle change, building confidence and greater independence along the way. By starting early, staying consistent, using visualization and storytelling tools, and celebrating progress, you can help your child ease into summer in a way that feels more comfortable for them.

If your family could use support with ABA therapy, Bloom Behavioral Healthcare would be happy to help guide you. Contact us today to learn more about how we can help!