It's 8:00, and your child with Asperger's syndrome is sprinting across the house like a maniac...
not the kind of behavior you had hoped for.
How are you ever going to calm him down enough to go to bed? 1.
Develop (and stick to) a routine Kids with Asperger's thrive on routines and structure.
It's important to choose and stick to the same bedtime every night.
You should develop a routine around bedtime, and have certain activities that lead up to bedtime that are the same every night.
That way, your child knows what's coming next; these activities act as a type of "cue" for the final step of going to sleep.
It is best to avoid stimulating activities like TV and the computer before bed.
A warm bath can be relaxing and a good cue to bedtime coming.
A parent reading a story or singing a song can also be part of a good bedtime routine.
2.
Check for sensory issues Kids with Asperger's syndrome have plenty of sensory issues, and these should also be taken into account when trying to figure out how to get your child to go to sleep.
Bedtime should be a calming and sensory distraction free time...
otherwise negative behaviors can occur.
You might want to consider buying blackout curtains, so that no light can get in, if your child needs complete darkness to sleep.
A "white noise" machine can also help some kids.
Another thing to take into account are sensory issues with fabrics like pajamas and sheets.
Are they too rough, or are they soft enough? All of this can affect your child's sleep experience.
3.
Associate the bedroom with sleep You want your child to think about sleeping when he or she is in the bedroom, and not about whatever tempting activities might lie in there.
For that reason, it is not a good idea to have a TV or computer in your child's bedroom.
Those things should be done at specified times in the living room or other family area.
4.
Pay attention to your kid's diet, and use natural supplements It is not a good idea for your child to have sugary foods if they have sleep problems.
Sugar tends to make kids more hyper.
Check to see if they have any other food sensitivities that may be causing wild and hyper behavior, such as artificial ingredients, food dyes, or gluten and/or casein.
A lot of bad behavior has been traced back to unhealthy and sugary foods.
You might also want to use a natural sleep aid called melatonin.
Our bodies produce melatonin naturally, and it helps us maintain a natural sleep schedule.
Usually, it is produced by the body when a person is in darkness.
Normally, the strongest concentrations are produced between 2-4 a.
m.
Kids with Asperger's are often shown to be low on melatonin.
Melatonin can cause grogginess in the morning, though, so consult a doctor before deciding to use it.
Many parents of autistic spectrum kids have found this to be very helpful.