Seasonal Changes For Children With Autism

Seasonal Changes for Children with Autism

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The changing of the seasons can be a fun and exciting time for children and their families. There are holidays, breaks from school, and new weather to enjoy or avoid. Milestones, memories, and special events are all things to look forward to – but they can also be stressful and cause challenges for children with autism.

These seasonal highlights do not need to have as much downside, however.

We’re going to focus on how parents and families can:

• _{Reduce stress during seasonal changes}
• _{Address seasonal affective disorder (SAD)}
• _{Maintain healthy routines for children with autism}
• _{Use differences in environments to practice and improve}

Using these four helpful ideas, we can make winter break and other seasonal changes happier and more manageable for children with autism.

As one season turns into another, there are many moving parts in the life of any child. For children with autism, some common changes that lead to stress can include:

1. _{Clothing: Routines for getting dressed can become altered, and certain children are sensitive to textiles and other textures in clothing. These changes often go unnoticed until the weather demands different layers, clothing materials, and more time spent getting dressed.}
2. _{School: There are many breaks in school or other activities based on the season: spring, summer, and winter break, along with celebrating individual holidays such as Christmas, New Year’s Eve, and among plenty more. Each of these comes with an irregular break from school, which can throw off the routine for children with autism.}
3. _{Allergies: New seasons bring new allergens, especially as cold and stormy weather make immune systems more susceptible. Spring and summer can also bring allergens and hot weather into the equation. Any combination of these can make it uncomfortable for children, which then affects their ability to be dynamic in other situations.}
4. _{Sensory disturbances: We already mentioned clothing – layers, mittens or gloves, and other types of fabrics might cause sensory discomfort for children with autism. However, that’s not all; changes in routines due to different weather, early morning brightness, and cold weather can all impact how a child with autism can function during the winter months.}
5. _{Schedule: Children with autism thrive on routine, and seasonal changes are a classic disturbance to a regular schedule. Traveling to see family or hosting events along with an irregular school schedule can provide points of frustration and confusion for children. Similarly, there may be different schedules due to weather or other seasonal demands.}

 Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) and Autism

Seasonal affective disorder is a type of depression that is often associated with the change to winter season or a decrease in sunlight. It affects millions of people worldwide each year, and is often underdiagnosed because it seems like a “funk” or is hard to explain until properly identified.

For children with autism, this can be compounded because they may have a hard time communicating the changes they are feeling. To make sure your child is not suffering from SAD, consider:

Signs and Symptoms: Low energy, lack of interest in hobbies, agitation, change in appetite, oversleeping.

Causes: Though it is attributed to the change in weather, the true culprits of SAD are typically your biological clock (circadian rhythm) changing, your serotonin dropping, and your melatonin levels dropping.