We went out for a meal yesterday, a farewell meal for some dear friends who are moving away.
It's lovely to be invited to things like this, but obviously a bit of planning is involved for it to be a success. A lot involves anticipating what difficulties your child may have and how these may be overcome.
I think the main problem for autistic people when eating out is the sensory overload, which is coming from all directions. The restaurant may be unfamiliar and there are likely to be lots of noises from people talking and from the kitchens. Visually, think about the impact that decor and lighting may have on a sensitive child. Thirdly, consider the food options and whether there will be an option that the child feels comfortable with.
Parents also need to consider waiting times, as food needs to be cooked and service isn't always very fast. If a child is hungry, their immediate needs could be overwhelming them.
So by anticipating these potential issues, we can come in with solutions to counter them.
It can be a good idea to find images of the restaurant on the internet, so that the child can see what the layout and decor is like before they go. Maybe you could find out when the restaurant is quiet or busy and schedule a visit at a quieter time. You could also do a "dry run" by going to see the restaurant before the actual visit so that they know what to expect.
If the child is sensitive to noise, then parents could utilise tools like ear defenders or maybe some headphones and familiar music which should hopefully have a calming effect and serve as a distraction. Again, it may help to sit in a quieter part of the restaurant that may not have as much footfall.
Most places have a menu that is accessible online so you can look at food options and discuss with your child what they may want to eat before they go. In our case, we were at an Indian restaurant but our son eats very plain food so we ordered him a plain omelette and chips, which he loved. Sometimes restaurants will cook things that are not on the menu if you ask nicely and explain the issues involved.
For long waiting times we use distraction techniques like a puzzle book, handheld console or colouring pad. This helps the time to go quicker when waiting for food.
It may be appropriate to mention your child's issues to restaurant staff so that they are understanding. Also have an action plan in mind for how you will deal with potential meltdowns. Is there a quiet room that you can take the child if they have a meltdown? Consider how you will deal with it if the worst case scenario happens.
If your child is on medication, make sure they have taken it before they go!
Our son behaved really well last night and I'm so proud of him.
If anyone has any tips or can think of anything I haven't t covered please feel free to leave a comment.
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