For working with children birth to 3 with red flags for autism

Embedding Activities in Daily Routines for Young Children and Their Families

Every Day!

Autism Intervention Every Day! Embedding Activities in Daily Routines for Young Children and Their Families

by

Merle J. Crawford, M.S., OTR/L, BCBA, CIMI

and

Contents

1. Autism and Early Intervention
2. Supporting Parents from Suspicions to Diagnosis to Services
3. Principles of Behavior and Teaching Strategies
4. Model for Addressing the Core Deficits of Autism
5. Building Skills to Support Regulation
6. Building Skills to Support Making Sense of Self, Others, and the Environment
7. Building Skills to Support Flexibility
8. Building Skills to Support Social Communication
9. Daily Routines and Common Challenges

About the Authors

Merle J. Crawford is an occupational therapist with a master's degree in occupational therapy and extensive training in relationship-based interventions.

Barbara Weber is a speech-language pathologist with a background in communication disorders and over 30 years of experience working with children and adults with disabilities.

Building Skills to Support Flexibility

The ability to adapt to changes and to accommodate and assimilate across people, experiences, and routines supports regulated responses to typical changes that occur on a daily basis. Infants and toddlers must adapt to changes as they interact with multiple caregivers, as they participate in routines, and as their bodies change and skills develop. Cognitive flexibility develops, which requires shifting attention, responding, holding information in the mind, and inhibiting other distractions in order to attain a goal.

Theories regarding the causes of inflexibility in autism spectrum disorder (ASD)

• Challenges with sensory processing
• Difficulties understanding others’ intents
• Intolerance of uncertainty

Cognitive inflexibility explains difficulties with transitions and changes in routine.

Bath Time

• Have bath time at a different time of day or in a different bathroom.
• Vary the order in which the child is washed.
• Give choices that differ from the usual routine.
• Use a variety of colors of towels and washcloths.
• Increase vocabulary with varied language during bath time.

Book Time

• Talk about pictures sometimes and read text other times.
• Vary questions asked about the pictures or the story, using different approaches to engage the child.

Bedtime

• Offer choices of two books to read or two songs to sing.
• Vary the closure when leaving the room.

Community Outings

• Vary the route when going for walks.
• Change the mode of transportation occasionally (stroller vs. walking).
• Diversify the child's seating arrangements in the car.

Diapering and Dressing

• Change where diaper changes and dressing occur.

Grooming and Hygiene

• Choose different flavors, colors, and scents for toiletries during grooming.

Household Activities

• Model flexibility during household chores.

Mealtime/Snack Time

Difficulties with eating are common among children with autism. Strategies for mealtime include:

• Changing the presentation of foods
• Introducing new foods in playtime environments.

Each section aims to help children become comfortable with gradual changes and to support their adaptability in a structured environment. Encouraging flexibility from an early age through simple, everyday activities can help promote overall development.