Many neurodivergent children don’t necessarily react to stimuli the same way. While some children may show absolutely no problem with being stimulated through sound or visual effects, some children simply go into sensory overload and have what is frequently called “meltdowns.” No one wants that to happen.
Although you cannot control the outside world, you can control the world inside of your home. There are ways that you create an environment where they can be relaxed enough to flourish. Your home should be your child’s sanctuary. A place where they don’t have to mask or hold it together.
Reduce Stimuli
It is important to control the noise level of your home if your child is bothered by sound. It may seem a simple task to leave televisions off or radios on low, but even movement around the house can be overwhelming. Our daily activities like cooking, for example, cause a lot of noise with the banging of pots and the sound of blenders. Other noises like the opening and closing of doors or the use of vacuum cleaners can really set a neurodivergent child into a tailspin.
If it’s possible, reduce as much stimuli as you can during the times that your child is home. If it is in your schedule to be home when they are not, that is a good time to get a lot of housework and noisy household chores completed. Otherwise, try and find what works best for your child’s schedule and your schedule.
Try Ear Protection
In order to reduce the noise level for your child while you are home and watching TV or doing things around the house, it may work to get your child some ear protection. Ear protection can be as simple as noise cancelling headphones or plain earplugs.
With noise cancelling headphones, your child will not be able to hear anything. Lots of models are bluetooth so Logan can still watch his phone or his computer. Research hearing protection faqs to get the answers you need to implement this in your home and your child’s daily routine.
Beats Solo Pro Wireless Noise Cancelling On-Ear Headphones – Apple H1 Headphone Chip, Class 1 Bluetooth, Active Noise Cancelling, Transparency, 22 Hours of Listening Time – Light Blue
Beats Flex Wireless Earbuds – Apple W1 Headphone Chip, Magnetic Earphones, Class 1 Bluetooth, 12 Hours of Listening Time, Built-in Microphone – BlackBeats Fit Pro – True Wireless Noise Cancelling Earbuds – Apple H1 Headphone Chip, Compatible with Apple & Android, Class 1 Bluetooth, Built-in Microphone, 6 Hours of Listening Time – Black
Do You Have a Pet?
Pets have been shown to be a huge help when it comes to helping a neurodivergent child feel safe and comfortable. Not only does your animal give your child something to focus on, but these animals can be trained as service animals to help alert you when there is something wrong with your child.
In the event that your child wanders towards the front door, or gets out the backdoor without you noticing, a trained service animal can alert you to the whereabouts of your child. Caring for a pet is also a wonderful way to teach certain life skills.
