Our Experience with ARFID
I always thought Jackie was a picky eater, but when she was 3.5 she was diagnosed Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder or ARFID. I learned that her "picky eating" was actually much more than that.
A Bed Box for Bedtime Anxiety
We've had a hard time with Jackie staying in her room at night or wanting me to stay in her room with her until she falls asleep. One of the members of our therapy team came up with the idea of giving her a bed box full of activities and toys she was only able to have if she stayed in her room without me. I gathered a bunch of special items together and put them in a bedtime only box for her. Let me show you what's in her current bed box!
Autism Fidget Toys & Bags
Shortly after Jackie was diagnosed as autistic when we were going to a lot of different therapies, I started carrying around these little fidget bags wherever we went. I realized that they were a great tool to keep her entertained and I now have them in almost every bag we own! I have one in my purse, diaper bag, our church bag, her backpack and we even have one in her bed box. They have become such a staple for us that I decided I would show you what I put in each of ours!
How We Use Countdown Chains
One of the many accommodations we use for our autistic daughter is countdown chains. Usually when we use these, I actually have our daughter help me make them. She loves doing crafts anyway, but I use this time to talk about what we are counting down and how many pieces we need for the chain. She personally seems to enjoy the entire process more when she's participated in creating it.
