Watching my cousin thrive without a strict plan changed my mind.

I always pushed for set schedules to help with his autism, but it just caused more stress. Seeing him relax and engage more when we go with the flow was a real eye opener.

3 comments

3 Comments

caleba451mo ago

Was it a book or an article you saw? I read something from a therapist that talked about this. They said pushing a rigid plan can actually make things harder for some people. It forces them to use all their energy just following the rules. Then they have nothing left for actually living and learning. Your story really shows that idea in real life.

jade_young681mo ago

Seriously, this hits home! I read a thing by a teacher who works with autistic kids. She said forcing a strict schedule can actually block progress for some. The kid fights so hard to keep up with the plan that they burn out. Then there's nothing left in the tank for the good stuff, like connecting or having fun. Letting things be more loose helps them save that energy for what matters. Your cousin doing better is proof that approach works.

caleb24128d ago

Wait, did you mean to tag @caleba45? I think you got the username a little wrong. But yeah, that teacher's take makes total sense. It's like trying to run a machine non-stop without a break, it just overheats and stops working. Forcing a kid to stick to a plan that doesn't fit them is gonna waste all their energy on just getting through the day. Saving that energy for connecting with people is way more important than checking off boxes on some schedule.