Summer Holidays: Getting out of the house

Tips for getting out the door during the holidays

Picture the scene, you’ve booked in for a swimming session, which starts in 45 minutes – plenty of time to get shoes on and get out of the house.

But suddenly your child starts struggling to get ready, they ignore you or they start snapping at you. Maybe they throw their shoes across the room, or run off into their bedroom.

You feel yourself getting sweaty and stressed, as the minutes tick down towards the swimming session that you know they would enjoy (and maybe even asked for!).

Your child is probably struggling with the transition, the sudden change to their day. One way to help ease this stress for them, is to use a visual calendar during the holidays, to manage the day in easy blocks.

Another way is to tap into their sensory needs. Natalie and Katy from our team have compiled a list of great tools to keep in mind, next time you need to get out the door! These are all activities which can help a dysregulated child, and build in some calm during transition periods.

  • using a vibrating toothbrush to brush teeth in the morning

  • munching on frozen fruit, such as mango, raspberries and blueberries

  • chewing on sourdough bread, apples, pretzels, or anything else that requires a lot of crunching and chewing

  • making and eating ice lollies 

  • playing a musical instrument; harmonica (something Nat uses this with her son!), recorder etc. Use this one with caution, if you yourself are sensitive to noise!

  • Drink a thick smoothie through a narrow straw or sports bottle – making the smoothie could also be part of your day, but equally if you just want to get out of the house, shop bought ones are perfect. To make a shop bought smoothie even thicker you can blend it with ice, frozen bananas or add some thick yoghurt.  

Hopefully these ideas will float around your head, and next time you feel a struggle to leave the house coming on, you’ll grab an apple and notice the difference.

 

 

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