Home ideas for an autistic household in 2018

Everyone knows the home is where the heart is.  We all want to enjoy our home but sometimes with kids it can seem like making our home safe, or nice or suitable for the family is challenging.  Our kids don't understand many boundaries so the place can end up a mess or be unsafe.  Here's some easier ideas to help make a house a safe home for a neurotypical and autistic family..

Walls

If you have the kind of kids that draw on your walls then you'll know what a mess this makes. Many kids with autism don't understand the difference between drawing on wipe boards at school or drawing on walls in the home.  Or honey on a sandwich and honey on a wall, or paint, or ketchup. We have a full grown Gruffalo on our textured wall paper in the lounge. Cute, but it's permanent now. Jane's got the idea of paper but she's the only one really.

Then there's the general kicking and scuffing that walls go through - particularly in area like the hall. The area that's meant to 'welcome' those into our home.  Last year we stripped the wall paper here -   fortunately the wall was in good repair and only needed a little patching.

We then painted with Valspar paint.  A friend of mine recommended it and I've been pleased.  It's scrubbable and doesn't seem to stain.  It's had felt tips, paint, been marked and they've (so far) all come off without a problem without any paint being scrubbed off in the process. When I want I can have clean walls!

Windows 

It's freezing just now but it won't be long before we want the windows open again. Problem is my kids are escape artists.  Wandering in kids with autism is very common and our younger son David would literally just walk out the door or drop out of a window and walk down the street.

We've now installed window locks to prevent this.  We've got these invisible restrictor latches that fit inside our new double glazed windows so you can't see them but that stop the window after about two inches from further opening. It's a simple catch to release but you need to know what you are doing to get it to unlock.

We've also got some of these key operated window cables that work the same way for added security in rooms we aren't often in, just incase David was on his own and fiddling about.

Space

There's plenty of small sensory toys and large sensory items that can help kids exercise their sensory systems.  This system is connected to the one that regulates their emotions - an excited child can often be calmed down by a good swing at the playground for example, and the reverse also works.

Swopping out a regular light bulb for a disco type one is an easy way to add a calming or sensory light to a room.  Many kids also benefit from the space outside.  Opening out indoors to a garden space (click here for an idea) can add space to get away when it's busy and provide an additional sensory space for the kids to enjoy.

Whatever your plans for your home this year, I think these are great ideas.  What tips would you give for your home in 2018?