The article explores the significance of bedrooms as safe spaces for autistic individuals, particularly emphasizing their personal nature and the challenges many face with sleep. It offers tips for creating autism-friendly bedrooms, focusing on sensory needs, functionality, safety, and promoting independence and personality. Despite the pressure parents may feel, the text encourages experimentation and prioritizes what works best for each child. Statistics highlight the prevalence of sleep difficulties among autistic children and suggest that examining bedroom environments can provide insights and solutions. Ultimately, the article emphasizes that well-designed bedrooms for autistic children can balance functionality with fun and appeal to various needs.
Inclusive Design: Incorporating the Child’s Choices
It is important of involving children with autism in the design process of their bedrooms, to consider their special interests and preferences. By giving them a say, such as incorporating their favorite themes or items into the room decor, it can create a calming environment tailored to their needs. For example, if your child loves flower, they may request flower bed sheets, or flower curtains. These personalized touches can help your child feel calm when they’re inside their room, potentially helping them sleep better at night.
Lighting
The sensitivity to sensory input experienced by many individuals on the autism spectrum, particularly regarding lighting. My personal personal preferences is controllable, indirect, and physically cold lighting, emphasizing the importance of safety and comfort. Consider the following design ideas to adjust for the light influences in your child’s room:
• Hue Lux bulbs
• Blackout shades or curtains
• Carpeting or low-pile rugs reduce glare
• Desk or floor lamps near work areas
These adjustments aim to provide a comfortable environment tailored to the child’s sensory needs and preferences.
Use soft colors
Too many bright colors could become overstimulating for your child, making their bedroom an uncomfortable place to be. Of course, you know your child better than anyone else, so be sure to pay attention to their specific preferences (as we mentioned at the beginning of this list). Soft, muted colors for the walls, bedding, curtains, and other accent pieces can help create a calming atmosphere. Suggesting darker hues like gray, navy, or soft blue for children with light and visual sensitivity. Red is noted for evoking strong emotions, while blues and greens are associated with calmness.
Creating Comfortable and Safe Zone
If you don’t have a separate play area at home, your child’s bedroom is probably filled with toys, stuffed animals, games, and other items. To manage the clutter and establish clear boundaries for different activities, it’s helpful to designate specific areas for play, sleep, study, and storage within their room. Creating a quiet reading corner or adding a cozy armchair can provide your child with a comforting retreat after a busy day.
Seating
If your bedroom serves multiple purposes, consider incorporating a small table and chair set for kids to engage in tabletop activities like playing, coloring, and drawing. Also, think about providing a comfortable spot to relax and an active seating choice such as a t-stool, ball chair, or small rocking chair, allowing your sensory-sensitive child to move or rock while seated. You can also explore the sensory pod swing and Harkla Hug available in the market.
Storage Ideas
Clear stackable drawers can be conveniently labeled with pictures, symbols, or words based on your child’s needs. If minimizing items is challenging, utilize practical storage solutions for better organization. Keep the system straightforward to promote independence in cleaning and accessing materials.
- Soft-sided cubes are a safe option for storing stuffed animals or small figurines.
- Swoop bags offer an accessible, portable, and lightweight solution for containing toys with small parts.
- Underbed storage drawers help keep more items out of sight. Consider using a locked closet for breakable materials that could be a safety risk when your child is unsupervised, particularly for children who wake up at night.
Bedding
Select fabrics that he finds appealing, cozy, and soft for instance cotton, flannel, sateen, or t-shirt materials. Consider patterns and prints that are fun but not overly stimulating.
Weighted blankets or compression sheets can aid sleep by offering deep touch pressure sensory input.
Moreover, a safety bed can aid in improving your child’s sleep with autism. By minimizing light and noise and providing a fully enclosed space, you may notice quicker sleep onset and longer periods of rest.