How to Design a Room for Kids with Autism
Parents often look forward to designing their kid’s rooms. They see this rare opportunity as a way to flex their decorative skills and try out design ideas that they hope their kids will come to love.
However, not all kids are fans of the typical kid’s room which is usually adorned with brightly colored paints, vibrant wall posters, playful games, and glittering lights. Kids with autism, for instance, have a unique preference. Hence, as a parent, you must note those preferences and stick to them when designing such a kid’s room.
Here are four things to consider when designing a room for kids with autism.
- Separate Spaces
When designing the room of a child with autism, there are a few things you need to consider. One of them is space. Children dealing with autism need familiar spaces to handle changes. Therefore, your duty as a parent is to create separate spaces in their room, with each area dedicated to a particular task such as reading, playing, sleeping, etc.
The layout should take this form: It shouldn’t be closer to the window. It should be in a place where lightning can be controlled. Other areas like study, play, enjoyment, etc., should be closer to the window where they can bask in the sunlight.
- Prioritize Safety
It would help if you prioritized safety when decorating your child’s room. First off, ensure that all storage units, including doors and windows, can be locked. Next, install covers over wall sockets and get rid of dangerous materials.
To ensure that your kid’s room is safe, carry out a thorough sweep. Your goal is to find any object that poses a danger to their safety and health. Common often-ignored areas to check out are:
Ceiling: How is the ceiling of your kid’s room? Does it come with a bright painting? Change it to something warm and relaxing. Aside from color, check the ceiling of your kid’s room for faults.
A stained ceiling may indicate leakage due to a damaged roof or burst pipe. If you live in Michigan, Marshall, don’t hesitate to contact a professional Marshall Roofing contractor to check it out. You may have to repair the roof or replace it entirely. You don’t want your kid’s ceiling to leak when it rains. It could result in discomfort and give rise to slip and fall accidents.
Toys: When buying toys for autistic kids, go for those that come in one piece to avoid the risk of choking, as some kids with autism engage in pica (eating non-food items). Also, don’t buy toys that can be smashed if dropped.
Furniture: The furniture in your kids should be safe. Steer clear of furniture with sharp edges to prevent potential injury due to a slip and fall incident.
- Control Lighting
Autistic children are usually sensitive to many things; lighting is one of them. With that in mind, when designing your kid’s room, quell the urge to go with flashy white lights. As these lights lose power, they may flash and trigger headaches and seizures. Instead, go for the common yellow lights.
Also, be cautious about how much natural light enters your kid’s room. Use blackout curtains or shades to block out outside lights at night. In addition, install switches that allow you to control the intensity of light in the room.
Lastly, ensure you consider the direction of light. For example, to reduce light intensity, you could position the light to face upwards.
- Select Quiet Flooring
Children with autism are sensitive to light, temperature, and sound. After designing your kid’s room with the lighting in mind, your next step should be finding a way to minimize sound. And how do you do that? An excellent place to start is the flooring.
Does the floor of your kid’s room absorb sounds? Is it soft and warm? If so, you have nothing to worry about. However, if the floor is fond of making those squeaking, or creaky noises that irritate the ear, you may have to change it.
Go for carpet floors (or floors made with natural woods), especially those with solid color and are easy to install and maintain. Steer clear from carpets with checkerboard effects.
Conclusion
Designing your autistic kid’s room in a befitting way is one big way to show how much you care and how keen you are to ensure that they are comfortable. However, don’t stop there. Ensure you offer your kid the support they need to live a happy life without being conscious of their condition.
Kori
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