The problem with short school holidays

The problem with short school holidays

It's half term for a lot of the UK. Children have a week off school to rest and spend time with family etc. We know that short school breaks can be tough for autistic children. The change in routine happens so fast that there’s barely enough time to adjust!

If your child is struggling to adapt to the changes this week, here's a few things you can try:

✔️ Stick to a Routine – Keep wake-up times, meals, and bedtime as close to school days as possible.

✔️ Use Visual Schedules – If your child benefits from structure, a simple timetable can help them see what’s happening each day.

✔️ Plan for Balance – Mix structured activities with downtime so they have space to regulate and recharge.

✔️ Keep Playdates Manageable – If they’re seeing friends, keep it short and structured to avoid overwhelm.

Of course, some autistic children need a week of complete rest. School takes so much energy out of them that without a week to recharge, they're unable to make it to the next school holiday. Make sure if your child is one of those who needs rest that they're not forced to do too much and are allowed time to do what they love. Only then will their energy reserves increase.

It’s great to have fun in the holidays, but big changes can be tricky in such a short break. Try not to do too much in a very short space of time.