How to Take an Autistic Child to a Restaurant

Опубликовал Admin
19-06-2019, 16:00
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Updated: March 29, 2019 When many parents of autistic children think of taking their autistic child to a restaurant, the idea may be frightening them, because doing so may cause meltdowns or other issues. And while it is true that nothing can guarantee a perfect meal out, with a little planning and preparation, you can take your autistic child out to eat. Read this article to find out how.

Before Going

  1. Know your child. Every autistic person is unique, and what works for one child may not work for another. The child's attention span, sensory issues, and communication ability will all come into play in going to a restaurant. Respect where the child's ability is, as not all autistic children are able to successfully have an outing at a restaurant, no matter the wishes and good intentions.
    • Do not base your child's ability or needs on any other individual on the autistic spectrum. While it may be inspirational that one child can visit a restaurant, that does not mean your child will have the same outcome for better or worse.
    • It is also possible that your autistic child may have no interest in eating at a restaurant, or find it a painful or frustrating experience.
    • Pushing too hard too fast can be bad for all concerned. Err on the side of moving slowly and gradually rather than quickly.
  2. Choose your restaurant carefully. Autistic people may have issues with things such as florescent lights, loud noises, crowds, music, and waiting. Look for a restaurant avoids these sensory and other issues. For example:
    • A fast-food restaurant may be the best choice for a person who cannot handle sitting and waiting for something to happen.
    • For an individual who gets overwhelmed with crowds, go to a quiet cafe on off-peak hours.
    • If lighting is an issue, perhaps an outdoor eatery is best.
  3. Rehearse eating out with your child. Go through a menu, order food, and practice sitting in a chair, and waiting patiently for your food to arrive. Doing this should give a good idea of how your child may do at a real restaurant.
    • Remember that many (not all) autistic children have a difficult time with the idea of pretending and have a hard time generalizing from one situation to another. If you pretend to order at a restaurant at home, they may not be able to perform the task at the restaurant because it is not home.
    • Be sure to alert your child in advance when you are going to do this, as this will be a break in routine for them, and this can be confusing and upsetting for an autistic person.
    • Be sure to use supports that your child uses, such as visual cards and checklists. These can be very helpful.
  4. Consider your individual's food preferences at home. For example, if she likes hamburgers, a restaurant that has a specialty of hamburgers may be a good choice. If your child enjoys seafood, go for a seafood restaurant.
  5. Do as much research about the restaurant as possible. Print off pictures, the name, and possibly even the menu, and show these to your child. This may help to better prepare them for what they're going to likely experience.
    • Should the restaurant's menu suddenly change before you go, be sure that you show your child the new one, especially if they already saw the old one.
    • Try to scout it out before bringing your autistic child. You may not realize until you get there that the restaurant has buzzers that go off, TVs playing, or flashing lights, for instance.
  6. Inform your child of the date and time you will be going as soon as you know for sure. Going out to eat is a break from routine, so informing them in advance, and reminding them a few more times before going will most likely help lessen the likelihood of a meltdown when it is time to go.
  7. Use social stories about restaurants. From restaurant behavior, to simply eating at a restaurant in general, social stories will likely help to prepare your child for an idea of what they can expect when they go out to eat.
  8. Contact the restaurant you are going to by phone. Many good-quality restaurants will be happy to accommodate special needs if they are told ahead of time. Inform them that your child is autistic, and what their needs are. This way, they can know ahead of time and make any accommodations, such as getting a table in a quieter area of the restaurant. Also, this would be a good time to alert them if your child has any allergies or food restrictions, so that once again, they know ahead of time.
  9. Consider bringing something to entertain your child. If your child has a short attention span, they may want to have a tablet, book, coloring book, or other way to entertain themselves. Also consider comfort items and stim toys. For example, if your child has a stuffed animal they love to pet, this may help keep them calm.
  10. Program any picture communication or other AAC system that your child may use. Try to make it include foods that are on the menu. This way, if your child wishes, they can order their own food.

While Out

  1. Ask to be seated in a quiet corner, or next to a wall, preferably in a booth. This can limit sensory stimuli for your child. Some autistic people prefer to have their backs to busy areas, while others prefer to have their backs to a wall (to avoid surprises). Let your child choose which side they'd like to be in.
  2. Keep a close eye on your child at all times. Especially in an unfamiliar place, an autistic child may attempt to run away (especially if stressed) or simply wander away, distracted by the novel surroundings. Keeping a close eye on your child will help lessen the likelihood of this occurring.
    • Seating can prevent eloping. In a booth, have your child sit next to the wall, with other people in between them and the restaurant. People in between them and the exit will prevent eloping, and make them easier to catch if they start running.
    • Notice signs of stress. If your child is getting overwhelmed or ready to run, a five-minute walk in the parking lot may help. This way, your child can have a much needed break, while supervised by an adult for safety.
  3. Pay attention to when your child is hungry. If you know your child is hungry, order an appetizer immediately—this will lessen the chance of a meltdown occurring. Make sure that the appetizer works with your child's sensory issues.
  4. Ask for the check immediately when you receive your entrees. A lot of autistic children have no interest in lingering after a meal. Leaving quickly is the best plan, and will make things a lot easier on both you and your server if you have to leave abruptly.
    • If other children eat more slowly than your autistic child, have something for the child to do. Maybe they'd like to play with a tablet, or take a walk outside with an adult who has finished eating.
    • Get takeout boxes if you need to leave early. That way, you can finish the meal at home.
  5. Know your child's tendency to spill things. If you are afraid that your child may spill their drink, ask the waiter for a kiddie cup for their drink. Or, bring a sippy cup or other such drink container from home.This will help avoid a huge spill if your child drops their drink or knocks it over.
  6. Ignore any comments or looks you may get if your child has a meltdown. You may hear other customers call you a "bad parent", or roll their eyes at you, but as hard as it may be, it is important to simply ignore them. They may not know enough about autism to realize what your child is going through.
    • Plenty of children, autistic and otherwise, have screaming episodes in public places. It's not fun, but it's normal. This doesn't reflect negatively upon you as a parent.
  7. Be prepared if your child's order goes wrong. This does happen, so if you or your child notice that the order is missing something, or something is wrong with it, flag down your server. When they take it away, if your child gets upset, explain to them that something was wrong with it, so they are going to fix their food and it will come back.
  8. Be prepared if your child does not like their food. Many autistic children have sensory issues, and a sprinkle of cheese may be as disgusting as if the meal were charred to a crisp. If your child does not like the dish, tell your server. They will most likely be aware that your child is autistic (inform them politely if they are unaware), and they will allow your child to pick a new dish, or have their dish prepared a different way if needed.
  9. Praise your child for a job well done if they made it through the entire meal. Whether it be with some simple words of encouragement, or through a tangible reinforcement if your child enjoys receiving them, be sure that you give your child some sort of praise if they made it through the entire restaurant visit.

Tips

  • Dine out at an off peak time, such as between 3:00 and 4:30. This way, the restaurant is less likely to be crowded, and you'll be more likely to receive faster service.
  • Have your child use the bathroom before you go out. This will avoid you having to take your child to the public restroom, where they may not want to go, are unable to go, or are overstimulated by a smell or if there are other people in there. They may not want to use the bathroom at home, but be sure that you at least have them try to go.
  • If the restaurant outing was successful, consider heading back to that same restaurant again in the future. This is especially true if the employees were all very nice, as you know they will most likely be nice again.
  • Hypersensitive teens may like food from the kids' menu, because it is usually blander than food from the adult menu.

Warnings

  • If the wait for a table is more than 10 minutes when you walk in, it is recommended that you try and find a different eatery, or eat there another night. Most likely, your child will get tired of waiting, and will be equally as upset when they realize there will be more wait for their food to come.
  • If you catch your child standing up and trying to steal food from someone else, stop them right away and apologize to the group sitting at the table. This may cause the customers to be mad, especially if your child succeeded in stealing the food. Remind your child that it is not okay to take other people's food, and if they want different food, they need to use their words/AAC.
  • As much as you may want to stay, if your child has a serious meltdown, it is important to take them out of the restaurant immediately for them to calm down. This will help your child relax, avoid escalation, and make it a better experience for other customers.
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