I’ve made the decision to adopt a relatively major change to the way I’ve been doing things in our house. 

Starting today, all screens (TV, tablets, laptops etc) will be turned off at 6pm. This rule applies to the boys because I need access to my phone and so have to work but the idea is to end the day without the use of screen time..

The only exception is that Elliott will use his tablet to listen to music at night and Emmett will watch an episode of something on Netflix before falling asleep. 

  
The music is a positive thing but I’m hoping to slowly reduce the need of TV at bedtime for Emmett. 

He really doesn’t even watch it, it’s essentially background noise and it lights up the room and makes him feel more comfortable. This doesn’t prolong his falling asleep either. 

So long as everything in his life is stable, he goes to sleep pretty easily. The TV shuts itself off and all that’s left is Elliott’s music. The problem is staying asleep for the most part, although the last few nights he’s had a rough time falling asleep. 😕

Anyway, the point is that I’m trying to adjust a deeply rooted routine and I’m going to need to take baby steps to get there. One of the worst things you can do to someone on the Autism Spectrum is make changes to routine. This needs to be done a little at a time or an extended period of time. 

I think this will end up being a positive change but I do expect that it will not be without its hiccups…