There are six days until January 2nd, but who’s counting? [Raised hand emoji]

Every parent of a neurodiverse teen and young adult is counting the days until high schools, programs, and colleges begin again. Our kids are creatures of habit. Without some outside force telling our kids to go to English class at 9:00, Social Studies at 10:00, and Gym class at 11:00, some of our guys will become unglued over the holidays. 

All types of neurodiverse kids struggle at this time. Autistic kids aren’t shy about their love of a well-thought-out weekly calendar. ADHD kids might fight rigid routines and weekly plans on calendar apps, but they secretly need them, too. 

Without the guard rails of a structured day, some kids might exhibit challenging behaviors. OCD tics might increase. They might pace back and forth in the kitchen with endless questions about train schedules or world history. Hard-won social skills might slip. Unmoored, some might be too clingy or others too belligerent.

Read more at The Great Leap, my autism newsletter