Whether you’re a parent, caregiver, teacher, or volunteer, having a toolkit of practical strategies makes an enormous difference. Here are some of the most effective tools you can begin using right away at home, at school, at church, or anywhere life takes you!
Visuals
Visuals aren’t just for school. They can be used anywhere a child spends time and help with both communication and understanding. Simple ways to use visuals at home:
- A morning routine chart showing each step of the day
- A first-then chart to ease transitions between activities
- Pictures paired with instructions, rules, or schedules to support comprehension
Timers
Visual timers help children transition from one activity to another without being caught off guard. Before a transition, give a heads up by saying something like, “five minutes until we clean up,” and a reminder at the one-minute mark. For children who don’t yet understand time concepts, a visual timer that shows time running out is far more concrete than a number alone. You can download an app right to your phone and have it avaialble wherever you need!
Social Stories
A social story is a short, simple visual tool that walks a child through what to expect in a specific situation and what behavior is expected of them. They work best when:
- Read the evening before and morning of the event
- Read again by the caregiver or teacher at the start of the activity
- Used consistently, repetition helps children feel secure and prepared
Social stories can be created for nearly any situation: a doctor’s appointment, a family gathering, a new bedtime routine, or a first day of school.
Body Movements for Regulation
When a child’s nervous system is dysregulated, moving their body can help. Simple movement activities that require no equipment:
- Jumping jacks
- Wall push-ups
- A short walk
- Animal walks
- Movement songs like Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes
Sensory Tools
There are a number of sensory tools that can help autistic children feel more comfortable and regulated throughout their day:
- Sensory chews: Provide a safe outlet for children who seek oral motor input through chewing on clothing, pencils, or fingers
- Noise-canceling headphones: Help children with sound sensitivities stay regulated in loud environments like assemblies, busy stores, or crowded parks
- Sunglasses: Support children with visual sensitivities in bright environments, whether indoors under fluorescent lighting or outside on a sunny day
- Compression vests or clothing: Provide proprioceptive input to help children who feel unsettled in their body feel calmer and more grounded
- Lap weights or weighted stuffed animals: Offer similar calming input, especially during seated activities or quiet time
- Sensory fidget toys: Give children who need to move their hands a way to stay focused during seated activities
- Sensory chair bands: A piece of elastic tied around chair legs for a child to bounce their feet on. This small adjustment that can make a big difference
- Sensory swings: Slow, rhythmic movement that calms the nervous system and helps an overstimulated child become ready to engage
- Trampolines: Help children who seek movement feel more settled and ready to participate
Building a Regulation Toolkit
One of the most practical things you can do is gather a small collection of calming tools and keep them somewhere easy to access. A simple bag or tub might include:
- Sunglasses
- Noise-canceling headphones
- A sensory fidget
- Bubbles or a pinwheel
- Essential oils
- Anything else your child finds calming
Having it ready before dysregulation escalates makes all the difference.
Where to Start
You don’t need every tool on this list. Start with one or two that feel most relevant to your child right now. A visual schedule and a small regulation toolkit are two of the most accessible places to begin. As you observe your child and learn what helps them feel calm and connected, you can build from there. Every child is different, and you already know yours better than anyone.
To learn more about Autism, enroll in our FREE Little Light House Academy Course, More than a Diagnosis: Intro to Autism!
