A 7-year-old boy from Essex who loves playing Minecraft and watching YouTube. Rocky has autism, ADHD, and Sensory Processing Disorder, which make tasks like getting dressed challenging. His mum, Diana, always helps him in the morning because Rocky needs a calm start to his day.
Annabel is a bright and creative 8-year-old who loves drawing and dancing. However, getting dressed in the morning is a daily challenge. She finds certain fabrics, seams, and clothing textures unbearable—especially school uniforms. Leggings are the only thing she feels comfortable wearing, making school mornings stressful for both her and her mum, Jane.
Using strategies like these both before and after school is important because cortisol levels (the stress hormone) may rise throughout the day when a child does not have access to strategies that help them cope with the sensory challenges of a busy classroom. Many people refer to this as the pressure cooker effect, where meltdowns often occur at home after a day at school. Supporting a child’s regulation after school is just as important as managing anxiety before attendance.
Proprioceptive activities—working muscles and joints—can help with self-regulation. Strategies such as having a mini movement break before and after school or engaging in activities like jumping, wall pushes, tug of war, or lava islands can also be beneficial. Another fun and effective alternative is having a kitchen disco after school each day. Joining in with your child or encouraging siblings to take part can help them get the most out of these strategies!
Dream the Change has been working with Spectrum Tailored Technologies founder, Rachael Malthouse, who has created the award-winning JamUp! JamUp! was a finalist in the Essex Care Tech Challenge. Back-to-school time can be particularly challenging for families with children on the autism spectrum. Rachael’s son finds the change in routine especially difficult, with one of the biggest hurdles being getting dressed.