Dinnertime and bedtime routines and rituals in families with a young child with an autism spectrum disorder

Background/aim: Routines are thought to be critical in laying the foundation for ritual development, and in turn rituals are considered important for forming a strong and healthy family unit. This article provides a description of the experiences of dinnertime and bedtime routines and rituals in Australian families with a young child with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), as well as common challenges experienced. Methods: Fourteen Australian mothers with a young child with an ASD between the ages of two and five years were interviewed about their performance of dinnertime and bedtime routines and rituals and their perceptions of both occupations. Descriptive qualitative interviews were audio taped and transcribed. Transcripts were analysed using thematic content analysis. Results: Two overarching themes emerged, including 'centred on ASD' and 'ASD alters meaning'. Mothers' descriptions revealed that families with a young child with an ASD experienced unstructured and chaotic routines at dinnertime. In contrast, bedtime involved the performance of more structured, and at times, non-functional routines. Moreover, dinnertime was bereft of meaningful interactions and rituals, whereas bedtime contained some positive meaningful interactions and rituals. Conclusions: Occupational therapists need to consider supporting mothers and the child with an ASD in enhancing their participation within all aspects of family life, by encouraging them to develop structured and more predictable dinnertime and bedtime routines inclusive of all family members. In doing so, this action will support mothers to develop a strong and cohesive family unit.