Transitions
My 7-year-old autistic kiddo (verbal, level 1) is increasingly having problems with transitions. I know this is not a new problem for parents with autistic kiddos.
What I'm noticing is that the anxiety over a particular transition is starting earlier and earlier. For example, tonight is swim lesson night. They love swim lessons. Once they get in the water they are a little fish and quite happy.
But now the anxiety over swim night is starting first thing in the morning or even the night before. Which has eliminated one of my tools to get through transitions lots of advance warning.
I do remind them that they love swimming once they are in the water. But in the midst of anxiety this is no comfort to them.
I'm looking for ideas on how to help them with transitions to things that are not daily events.
NOTE: This is not just about swimming, that was simply my example. We see this with any activity that is not a daily activity. Other examples would be Scouts, Karate, a doctor's visit, a birthday party I know they really want to go to basically anything that is not part of their daily routine.