Cost-Efficient Ways for Parents of Children With Autism To Stay Organized

No one needs to tell you that parenting is hard. And raising a child with autism often comes with unique challenges — namely, staying organized.

Children with autism typically require additional support and supervision, which means it can feel impossible to keep the house tidy, manage schedules, and fulfill other tasks. But there are ways to stay organized without breaking the bank. That’s why Autisable has shared a few cost-effective strategies for keeping your household in order!

Declutter your living spaces.

Decluttering is the first step in any home organization project. It’s especially crucial for situations like yours because clutter is often overstimulating for children with autism. 

Take a day to go through each room of your house, remove any unnecessary items, and sort out what’s left. You might be surprised at how much more relaxed and in control you feel after tidying up.

Keep your home organized after you declutter. 

After decluttering, you’ll want to ensure your home stays organized. Try making a cleaning schedule for each room. For example, you could assign one day a week to clean the bathroom, another day to clean the kitchen, and so on. Sticking to a schedule can help ensure your home remains organized and manageable.

Keep in mind that if you add any new furniture or other pieces, you’ll need to confirm that you have enough space to accommodate them (without making your home feel cramped). If you don’t have enough room, you may be able to rearrange the space and make it work. Otherwise, you’ll need to get rid of something before bringing another item in!

Further, digitizing and organizing your children’s essential medical history and schooling documents can save a lot of time and hassle in the long run. Scanning and storing these documents digitally means you can easily access and share them when necessary. This tool will help you edit a PDF for free without having to print it out!

Learn to meal prep. 

Meal prepping is a fantastic method for saving time and money. By preparing meals in advance, you can make sure you and your family always have something healthy and delicious to eat, even on the busiest of days! Choose one day of the week to prepare meals for the upcoming week. Then, freeze or refrigerate the meals; all you have to do is heat them up when you’re ready to eat!

Manage your kids’ schedules. 

Juggling appointments, therapies, and school schedules can be overwhelming when your child has autism. Fortunately, there are ways to stay on top of things! 

Try using a planner or calendar app to keep track of all the appointments and important dates. You can also use these tools to schedule downtime for yourself and your children to rest and recharge.

Teach your kids about responsibility. 

Learning responsibility is critical for all children, and this is also a great strategy for keeping your house organized. Even young kids can learn to tidy up their toys, put their clothes in the hamper, and help with meal prep. Teaching your kids a bit of responsibility will alleviate some of your workload while teaching your children valuable life skills!

Work from home in the midst of it all. 

If you’re working from home, you know how challenging it can be to juggle your work responsibilities with your parenting duties. But don’t think it’s impossible!

Set up a designated workspace for yourself and stick to a consistent schedule. Be sure to communicate with your employer about your needs and preferences when it comes to working from home. And if you’re self-employed, make sure you have all the tools you need to work efficiently and productively.

Summary

It may not be easy, but you can be the most organized parent on the block! Decluttering, establishing a cleaning routine, meal prepping, and following the other tips above will put you on track to remaining organized and in control.

More importantly, you’ll be setting an excellent example for your child and helping them learn essential life skills that they’ll carry with them into adulthood. Take a deep breath, focus on one day at a time, and you’ll be an organization pro before you know it!

If you enjoyed this article, you can find more helpful content on Autisable.com!

Image via Pexels

Ed Carter

As a former financial planner, I use my background and experience to help those with disabilities plan for their future. About 10 years into my career, I saw a need for financial planners who specialize in helping individuals and families living with disabilities. I created Able Futures to help people with disabilities prepare for a secure and stable financial future.