Children with FASD do best with a brain-friendly home environment.
Build external structure
- Visual schedules for morning, after school, bedtime
- Same routines every day where possible
- Warnings before every transition ("5 minutes until tea")
- One instruction at a time
- Visual reminders for everything (toothbrushing chart, getting dressed steps)
Prevent meltdowns
- Watch for tired, hungry, overstimulated, transition
- Reduce sensory load (lights, noise, clutter)
- Build "decompression time" after school
- Have a calm-down space, not a "naughty step"
- Avoid surprise visitors, surprise plans
Emotional regulation
- Co-regulate first — your calm becomes their calm
- Name feelings simply
- Use stories and pictures, not long explanations
- Repair the relationship after a difficult moment
Sibling support
- Siblings need information appropriate to their age
- They may feel the FASD child gets "different rules" — explain that fair doesn''t mean the same
- One-to-one time with each child matters
Carer wellbeing
- FASD parenting is exhausting. You need real respite, not "just keep going".
- Family Fund grants, Carer's Allowance, short breaks (ask your local council)