Having a cuppa at the shops.

Having a cup of coffee at the shops with a friend is generally a pleasant experience. However, for your child who has an autism spectrum disorder it may be another totally bewildering time. There are lots of people; it’s noisy; the chairs and tables are different, there’s lot of clatter of dishes, the food is different etc. etc.…

TRY:

v choosing a very quiet time of day.

v going to an out-of-the way café, not the food court.

v taking your child’s own cup.

v sitting him on your knee or in his stroller.

v taking a favourite toy.

v buying him food he really likes, e.g. chips, chocolate. Be careful as you may start a routine that you have to continue.

v making a photographic story about going out for a drink. Finish by going home and doing something your child really likes. Stick figure drawing may be just as successful with older children.

v taking a video of a having a drink at the shops. (Playschool or Humphrey episode of shopping).

Remember that going anywhere is highly unpredictable. You cannot control all the factors. In addition to all the factors discussed above, the weather, especially if it is windy, can also influence the success or otherwise of your trip.

Keep your trips short. Going for several short cuppas will be more productive than one marathon session.

You will need to be prepared for interfering strangers if things go wrong.

Spending some time thinking about how you are going to manage this scenario is well worthwhile.

Some people prefer to ignore interfering busybodies while other people feel happier if they have prepared a short sentence or two, e.g. “My child has autism spectrum disorder.” Yet other people like to have meltdown cards in their pockets to hand out.

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