Ten Ways to Create An Autism-Friendly Home Environment In Mississauga

There’s no place like home. For a family, home should be a place of respite, for children, the safest place they know, and for little ones with autism, nothing short of a sanctuary. Building this safe haven for your children takes commitment, but it’s worth it. An autism-friendly home environment can significantly enhance the comfort, safety, and well-being of neurodivergent children.

Here are ten ways to customize and fine-tune your home to better meet the needs of your children with autism in Mississauga.

1. Keep Clutter To A Minimum

There will be no blessing of any messes. A chaotic, cluttered environment can be downright overwhelming for a child with autism. They thrive on order and predictability. So keep your spaces neat, tidy, and well-organized. Declutter all that does not sparkle you with joy and minimize any unnecessary distractions. If you’re a hopeless hoarder, look into simple storage solutions like giant bins, closet shelves, and bicycle hooks to keep toys and other items neatly in their place. A clean and orderly space can help your child feel more at ease. It will even help with their focus.

2. Designate A Safe Space

Before driving the first nail or pulling up a single floorboard, ask yourself: “Is this safe?” At the end of the day, safety is your number one concern when it comes to children with autism. There’s a different rulebook you need to be mindful of. Children with autism may have a tendency to wander off or engage in unpredictable behaviours that could put them at risk. So stop and look around often. Make sure that hazardous items such as belt sanders and saws are out of reach. Then you might want to install safety locks on your doors and windows. Finally make use of gates to block access to certain areas. You want your child to feel free to play and explore throughout the home without constant parental supervision. So make your place a safe space. 

3. Use Calming Decor And Colours

Did you know that the University of Iowa used to paint the change rooms of the opposing team Pepto-Bismol pink to throw them off their game? Don’t be like the University of Iowa. The colours and décor of a home have been shown to have a huge influence on a child’s mood and behaviour. When making a trip to the paint store, opt for calming colours like soft blues, greens, or pastels. These shades create a soothing atmosphere. Whatever you do, steer clear of bright, overstimulating colours, distracting, noisy patterns, and horrible Pepto pink.

4. Build A Predictable Routine

Use the layout of your home as a vehicle to establish normalcy and predictability. Children with autism often thrive on routine and repetition. Make each day the same (well, just a little different) by establishing a consistent daily schedule for activities like waking up, meals, playtime, and bedtime. This can help reduce a child’s anxiety and create a feeling of order and safety. Don’t be afraid of using visual schedules with pictures or symbols to illustrate the flow of the household duties. 

5. Assign Specific Areas For Activities

Do you have a storytime nook? How about a Quiet Room? If space allows, map out your home so that there are special corners for different activities. By creating designated spaces for different activities, you can help children with autism understand what is expected of them and where. You might want to build a sensory room with dimmable lights and soft blankets, or carve out a quiet area for reading, and put a table and chairs in the designated area for eating. These steps towards organization can help to reduce confusion and help children transition smoothly between their daily activities.

6. Use Visual Supports

A picture speaks a thousand words. Visual supports such as charts, pictographs, picture schedules, and labels can help with communication and clarity. Make use of visuals to map out daily routines, rules, and whatever expectations you have of your child pertaining to each task.. Tools such as these can help children with autism process information more readily. You’ll find they are more likely to follow instructions this way as well. 

7. Be Mindful Of Sensory-Friendly Elements

Hard wooden seats and 100 watt light bulbs aren’t for everyone. It’s not uncommon for children with autism to have acute sensory sensitivities. So craft your home into a place that is mindful of their unique needs. Creating a sensory-friendly environment can help your child feel more relaxed and comfortable. A few things to consider are: noise-canceling headphones, weighted blankets, soft lighting,and fidget toys. Providing a quiet space where your child can find solace when feeling overwhelmed creates an environment of trust and security. 

8. Incorporate Sensory Activities

Sometimes the senses are to be celebrated and embraced. If you have a child with sensory processing issues, you can help them manage them with an abundance of positive sensations. Have plenty of textured fabrics onhand, a stereo loaded up with soothing music, and a drawer full of sensory balls, or water beads. Try including  sensory activities in your home. Create a sensory corner or box with items such as these. Also look for activities that can provide calming and stimulating experiences to soothe a savage breast when frustrating times rear their head.

9. Foster Communication

When it comes to communicating with children with autism, technology is our friend. Do a little research to find the right tools that work for you. This might include apps, video games, picture exchange communication systems (PECS), communication boards, or speech-generating devices. You want to encourage your child to express themselves and articulate their needs and feelings. Use your child’s preferred method of communication. Whatever it takes. 

10. Cultivate Independence

You can make a few tweaks around the home to make sure that it is foolproof enough for a child to run things on their own (more or less). The idea here is to promote your child’s independence by creating an environment that encourages self-sufficiency. Think outside the box and more like a kid. Child-sized furniture? Why not? A monster bean bag chair? You bet. Blankets in the hallway closet? Sure! Fix up your home with other child-friendly adjustments such as easy-to-open containers, and printed step-by-step instructions taped to the counters for daily tasks. You can boost your child’s confidence and skills by allowing your child to perform and master tasks on their own.

You don’t need to be all that handy to create the perfect home for your child. You just need to be thoughtful. Building an autism-friendly home environment involves careful consideration of your child’s unique needs and preferences. You can create a space that enhances their comfort, supports their development, and promotes well-being if you follow the ten steps outlined above. You can help your child reach their full potential by creating a supportive home environment. It will make a significant difference in their daily life and overall happiness and sense of security.