Tips to help your preschooler with neuro-differences

Calming

1. Consistent routines and people.
2. Child may panic or overreact when faced with certain lights, sounds, noise, people, things, smells, loud toys, touch, movements, activities or colors.
3. Slowly introduce new experiences.
   • Five minute errands.
   • Go to the library and get one book.
   • Visit one animal at the zoo.
   • Sit in church for one song.
4. Help child calm – swaddle, rock, quiet music, warm bath.
5. Avoid rough play, tickling or bouncing if it upsets child or makes them out of control.
6. Keep energy level low.
7. Build in extra time for your experience. If you expect a typical child to be able to do this errand with you in a comfortable 15 minutes, TRIPLE the time expected for your atypical child. You will not be rushed, and add in to the child’s anxiety. If you end up having extra time, Great! You can praise the child for getting the errand done quickly.

Sleeping

1. Learn tired signs.
2. Keep bedtime routine the same.
   • Keep lights low.
   • Darken room when child is sleeping.
3. Keep noise to a minimum. Child may like fan, humidifier or other white noise.
   • Child may like to sleep in clothes or nude.
   • Child may like to sleep in a mummy bag, all zipped up, or the child may like only a light sheet to sleep under. (Experiment!)

Eating

1. Try to make eating a positive experience.
   • Introduce new foods slowly.
   • Serve food warm, not hot or cold.
   • Allow plenty of time to eat.
   • Know child’s hunger signs.
   • Child may be taste and texture sensitive.

Playing

1. Encourage new learning and ideas.
2. Play on the floor with your child.
3. Clearly define your child’s space.
   • Provide a place your child can play and explore safely with least restrictions.
   • Less is better.
   • Avoid cluttered, chaotic or busy areas – busy room decorations may be too much for child to handle.

Holidays

1. Find a quiet place to be away from the crowd at family gatherings.
   • Consider arriving late and leaving early.
   • Consider bringing your own quiet place—utilize your vehicle, or bring along a small popup tent for tots or blankets to build a fort in a quiet corner
2. Create rituals the child can understand.