Anxiety

Anxiety

Download Anxiety Resource Card

Anxiety Tips Video Summary

If your child worries or becomes anxious, what do you do? Helping them understand what is going to happen next will help your child feel more calm. Making the day predictable helps a child be calm.

  • A schedule is a good way to let the child what is going to happen next. Think about the following:
    • How much information will you put on the schedule: the entire day, the morning only, two events, and so forth?
    • Will you use pictures vs photos vs hand drawn to show your child what will happen? Even if your child is not yet reading, putting words on the schedule can be helpful.
    • What will your schedule look like? Will it be on a piece of piece of paper, on a post-it, in a photo album?
  • Some schedules might need to be very detailed, such as the steps for going to the dentist. The student may be concerned and may need details of exactly what is going to happen.
  • Another way to help students not to worry is to watch videos to prepare them for an activity. If your child is worried about going to the dentist, watch some videos on YouTube about going to the dentist.
  • Another way to help children understand what is going to happen next is to read books, such as:
    • This Is How We Get Ready by DK
    • Slumberkins Sloth's Daily Plan: An Introduction to Routines by Oriard & Christensen
    • Just Breathe Bear by Jones

Anxiety Visual Supports

Schedules can be made using Google images, photographs, or drawings.

Download/Print a "First/Then" Schedule

 

Articles to Learn More About Anxiety

If you would like to read more about schedules, click on the links below:

https://www.autismparentingmagazine.com/effectiveness-visual-schedules/ 

https://www.iidc.indiana.edu/irca/resources/visual-supports/schedules-examples-from-teacch-training.html 

 

Examples of Anxiety Supports

First, Next, Then Schedule showing a bank, grocery store, and home  First, Then Schedule showing breakfast and a doctor

First-Then Schedule showing a bus, the library, lunch, and home  First-Then Schedule drawn on back of paper plate  Front of paper plate from Chuck. E Cheese's

If you don’t have a schedule ready to go, but find your child needing one, grab a piece of paper or even the back of a paper plate. You can write or draw pictures to make a quick schedule to show your child what will happen and when it will be time to be done.

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