Helping my autistic kids as the weather gets wet

The rain was so heavy today we had mini floods on the way back from school.  Not so long ago this would have caused at least one of the kids to have a meltdown.  But it's not quite so bad now that they understand what's going on and we've got things to help them stay dry.

Top five tips for helping autistic kids in the rain

We used to think Anthony didn't like rainbows because rainbows in the sky meant it was raining. Anthony used to hate the rain.  He said it hurt his face and he'd do anything to be out of it.  He used to be scared of getting out of the car if it was wet outside.  Now though we do much better and part of that is down to him learning about it and getting some things to help him in the wet.

Wacky weather tree motor skills learning activity

We've had a rather wacky few weeks.  And this had included the weather.  We've had cloudy days, sunny days, wet days and even night time thunder storms.  If this is causing conversation in your house like it is on ours, then turn it into a fun motor skills learning activity with a weather tree craft.

At the beach for my son with autism

He turns away from the sunlight. It's bright... it's soo white. His eyes crease, his nose crinkles and his big brown eyes become little slits on a chubby looking face. He looks down, seeks the shade and seeks shelter from the wind behind me. But this isn't a bleak desert or an isolated part of the 'mid-west', this is simply our son David, at the beach.

The sensory sky

Despite being summer, we've quite had a few bright but blustery days. There's been periods of grey skies, and at night there have been some high winds. As I'm stood watching the sky turn grey over the playground, it is slowly emptying. We often go later in the day when it's a bit quieter but we are soon the only family there. 

#WonderfulWednesday: Sights and Sounds video by the NAS

My wonderful Wednesday share this week is a video I saw on Facebook from Upworthy, that originally came from the National Autistic Society. Unlike most of my shares I'm not sharing it because it made me feel particularly happy. I think the video is wonderful because I wonder on a daily basis what life must feel like for my boys and this video attempts to show me that.

Yesterday I wrote about what I thought it might be like having Dyspraxia, and how mentally tiring it must be to be constantly fighting to get your body to do what you want it to. I thought it might be a bit like trying to write with the wrong hand.

A few months ago I wrote about going for a walk on a blustery bright day and how I found it difficult to see anyone properly and couldn't hear when anyone was shouting out to me.  I thought it might be a bit like that on a regular day for my boys.  Realising the kind of things Anthony coped with when going to a swimming gala nearly brought me to tears.

The more I understand what's it's like for my boys the more I can simply be there for them. The more others can imagine what it might feel like, the less stigma there will be attached to my boys actions and conditions.  And that's wonderful.

It's a simple video attempting to show what's like for an autistic boy wondering through a Shopping Mall.  Go check it out and let me know what you think.

Links
Our blog - Gale winds and a low sun - is this what it's like for my autistic sons?
Our blog - Motor planning skills reminder
Our blog - Never prouder of last place - Anthony's swimming gala

External Links
Upworthy
National Autistic Society

As listed on:

Wellies, make me think SPD

It may have been a bit damp outside yesterday but it wasn't really cold. Instead of being locked up in the house a couple of the kids went to lend a hand cleaning and clearing up in the front garden and garage. 

The grass and bushes were still pretty wet and after a while Jane had stomped around enough for Daddy to holler inside,  "I think wellies would be better mummy!  Jane go inside and get your wellies on."

As I approach the front door, Jane is stood on the porch with soggy looking shoes and her bottom lip sticking out. "Shhhh, but I don't want to wear wellies. They make me fall over." 

I tried not to smile at the fact that she had tried to hide her confession from her dad. I opened the door wider and asked her if she had finished playing outside or not. Sensibly she came in and we popped her shoes on the dryer. 

But her adorable confession reminded me of the difficulties the boys have in wellies.  David in particular won't wear them.  As part of their autism both the boys have sensory processing disorder (SPD). If affects them both differently. 

David finds his level by spinning and squealing a lot. Anthony likes to jump but his biggest issue was falling over. We were in A&E twice before every cornered and edged piece of furniture was fitted with bumpers. Wellies were difficult for him too. They were just too awkward to work and required a bit more coordination than he had in those loose fitting boots. 

David has a slightly different issue. As with many people with autism, David likes routine and sameness. He wouldn't wear wellies because they weren't his normal shoes, they were different. Not surprising really, it took us three weeks to get him to try his school shoes on. 

Of course, for some kids with SPD, wellies would be essential as they might not be able to bare getting wet or cold. 

Both our boys do a bit better now. Happily, a lack of wellies doesn't seem to stop them running around the garden. How do your kids survive the wet or cope with different clothes?