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I-Autism Step by Step Guide | Taking a Shower

3 mins

Autism Guide: Showering

Teaching children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to shower can be a challenging but essential task. This guide provides effective strategies and a structured framework to help caregivers successfully teach this important self-care skill.

Strategies for Teaching Showering

1. Task Analysis

Break down the showering process into smaller, manageable steps. This allows the child to focus on one action at a time, making the overall task less overwhelming.

2. Visual Supports

Utilize visual aids to help the child understand the sequence of actions. This can include:

  • Picture schedules that illustrate each step of the showering process.
  • PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System) symbols representing actions like turning on the water, washing, and rinsing.

3. Modeling

Demonstrate the showering process:

  • Show the child how to turn on the water, wet the washcloth, and wash their body.
  • Narrate your actions to provide context and clarity.

4. Prompting Techniques

Use various prompting strategies to guide the child through the showering process:

  • Verbal prompts: Use clear instructions (e.g., “It’s time to take a shower”).
  • Physical prompts: Gently guide the child’s hands if needed.
  • Gestural prompts: Point to the items they need to use (e.g., soap, washcloth).

5. Positive Reinforcement

Encourage and motivate the child by providing positive reinforcement:

  • Offer praise for completing each step (e.g., “Great job washing your arms!”).
  • Provide a reward after showering, such as a favorite toy or snack.

6. Create a Routine

Establish a consistent showering routine:

  • Incorporate showering into the daily schedule to create familiarity.
  • Use the same sequence of prompts and visual aids each time.

7. Sensory Considerations

Be mindful of potential sensory issues:

  • The sound and feel of water can be overwhelming; consider using a showerhead with adjustable settings.
  • Use unscented or mild soap to reduce sensory overload from strong smells.

8. Incorporate Comfort Items

Allow the child to use a preferred sensory toy or object during the shower to provide comfort and reduce anxiety.

9. Gradual Independence

Gradually fade prompts as the child becomes more proficient:

  • Start with full assistance and slowly reduce support as the child gains confidence.

10. Collaborate with Parents

Work with parents to ensure consistency at home:

  • Share strategies and visual aids that can be used during showering.

How This Guide Works

This guide is designed to provide a structured approach to teaching showering, focusing on clear steps and effective strategies.

Tasks

This is a list of the smaller steps involved in the activity, breaking it down into manageable parts:

  1. Turn on the water and adjust the temperature.
  2. Wet the washcloth.
  3. Soap up the washcloth.
  4. Clean the body.
  5. Rinse off the soap.
  6. Turn off the water.

Prompts

These are specific verbal or physical cues given by the caregiver to initiate, guide, or reinforce the desired behavior:

  • Start: “It’s time to take a shower” or “Let’s get clean.”
  • During: “Wash your arm” or “Rinse off the soap.”
  • End: “Good job, all clean!”

Simple Prompts

Simplified versions of the prompts to make them easier for the child to understand:

  • Start: “Shower time” or “Clean up.”
  • During: “Wash” or “Rinse.”
  • End: “Done” or “All clean.”

Positive Reinforcers

A list of rewards or incentives used to encourage and reinforce the child’s positive behavior during the activity:

  • Praise for following each step.
  • A favorite toy or activity after showering.
  • A special snack or treat.

Strategies

General approaches or techniques used to achieve the desired outcome:

  • Use visual aids or a picture schedule to help the child understand the steps.
  • Break down the task into smaller steps if needed.

Checklist

A list of tasks or items to check off before, during, and after the activity:

  • Ensure that the water temperature is not too hot or too cold.
  • Have all necessary items (soap, washcloth, towel) ready before starting.
  • Provide clear and concise prompts throughout the activity.

Sensory Considerations

A list of potential sensory issues that may arise during the activity that could be overwhelming for the child:

  • The sound and feel of the water may be overwhelming for some children.
  • The texture and smell of soap may also be overwhelming; consider using unscented or mild soap if necessary.

PECS

This stands for Picture Exchange Communication System and is a tool used to aid communication between a child with autism and their caregiver. In this case, we suggest using PECS images that focus on the specific actions involved in the activity:

  • Picture symbols of the shower, water, soap, washcloth, body, and towel can help the child understand the steps and sequence of the task.

By following these strategies and utilizing the structured framework provided, caregivers can effectively teach children with ASD how to shower independently, fostering both self-care skills and confidence.

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