School breaks or holidays—while a welcome rest for many—can be a source of intense anxiety and behavioral challenges for an autistic child. They thrive on predictability, and the sudden loss of the highly detailed structure and routine of the school day, combined with the sensory chaos of family gatherings, travel, or late nights, can quickly lead to dysregulation. Learning how to maintain structure and routine during long school breaks or holidays is crucial for preserving the child’s emotional regulation and ensuring the time off is restful for the entire family. The key is creating a flexible framework that incorporates the essential elements of the daily schedule.
Understanding the Mechanism
The anxiety stems from the cognitive effort of navigating the unknown. A schedule provides a map for the day, and without it, the brain feels lost. The strategy is to identify the non-negotiable anchor points of the daily routine and build a flexible schedule around those, making the changes visible and predictable.
Natural Strategies to Try
Focus on creating a modified, visual schedule that bridges the gap between school and home.
Anchor Point Scheduling: Identify two or three non-negotiable anchor points that must remain the same: the wake-up time, meal times (e.g., breakfast is always at 8:00 AM), and the bedtime routine/time. Maintaining these stabilizes the body clock and mood.
The “Break” Visual Schedule: Create a laminated visual schedule specifically for the break. It should have the anchor points, but allow for flexible activities in between. Use a “Wild Card” picture (a picture of a question mark or a surprise box) to show where the flexible, fun, or novel activities will fit in.
Scheduled Sensory Time: Ensure the school’s sensory input is replaced. Schedule a mandatory Quiet Time/Sensory Break (e.g., 30 minutes in the sensory corner, or 30 minutes of heavy work at the park) at the same time the child would normally have their most demanding school period.
Lifestyle Tips for Long-Term Success
Prepare the child for the special events and the return to the school routine.
Prepare for Novelty: If you are traveling or attending a gathering, create a mini Social Story for the event. Include pictures of the destination, the new people, and what the child’s role will be.
Gradual Transition Back: Do not wait until the last day to shock the system. Start transitioning back to the school’s schedule (earlier wake-up, earlier bedtime) 3-4 days before school actually resumes.
Involve Them in the Planning: Give the child a limited choice in the “flexible” parts of the break schedule (e.g., “Do you want to go to the pool or the library this afternoon?”). This provides a sense of control over the structure.
Learning how to maintain structure and routine during long school breaks or holidays is a crucial parental skill. By creating a visual map of the “new normal,” you reduce anxiety and help your child enjoy the time off without feeling lost. What are your child’s three non-negotiable anchor points during the break?