I often tell parents the cardinal rule of a cognitive inflexible child is ...prepare, prepare, prepare. What does that preparation look like? One very important part is to help the child predict what to expect. This is done through structure. My first line of defense is structure and predictability. It is the easiest to do as it takes the physical environment and helps the child know what is going on in it. On another day, we will look at the things that are harder to predict.
The first area is the child's schedule. Let him know what the sequence is of his day, his week and his month. It is helpful to have a visual schedule. This may be a sticky note for a strong reader or it may be a picture or object to represent each event of the schedule. This helps a child to know what is coming next. Normally a daily schedule works best. As a child understands time better, a weekly and monthly schedule may be helpful. This will lower a child's anxiety by helping him to predict what comes next. A visual schedule gives him a lasting reminder of what is happening. An auditory reminder is better than no reminder but it evaporates in air once it's said. A visual schedule can be referred to over and over because it is always there. The visual schedule helps him find information about the day without adult help which increases independence.
The visual schedule is one way a parent can increase independence and communication while decreasing anxiety and behavior. I think every parent would view this as a step in the right direction!
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