A Gentle January Reset: Helping Autistic Kids (and Parents) Ease Back Into Routine After the Holidays

If you are reading this on January 2nd and thinking,
Why does my house already feel chaotic… wasn’t Christmas just yesterday?

Welcome. You are absolutely not alone.

The holidays can be a lot for autism families.
Different routines. Different foods. Different sleep schedules. More noise. More people. More everything.

And now, suddenly, real life is knocking again.

If your child is melting down more, sleeping worse, clinging harder, or looking at you like “Excuse me, why are you asking me to do things again?” please know this:

This is not failure.
This is transition.

And transitions are hard, especially for sensitive nervous systems.

So let’s talk about how to ease back into routine gently, without turning January into another exhausting project.

First Things First: Your Child Didn’t “Regress”

I want to say this clearly, because I know how quickly our minds go there.

💚 Your child didn’t lose skills.
💚 You didn’t undo months of progress.
💚 Nothing is broken.

Their world simply changed again.

Holidays usually come with later bedtimes, more treats, extra screen time (because survival), louder environments, and fewer expectations. When routine suddenly returns, the nervous system can feel overwhelmed and unsure.

That does not mean anything went wrong.
It just means we are helping things feel safe and predictable again.

Some links in this post are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I’ve linked the items throughout the post so you can explore what feels helpful, see what fits your child’s needs, and decide if any of my gentle recommendations are right for your family. Thank you for supporting my little cozy corner of the internet — it helps me continue sharing comforting resources for families like ours.

Step 1: Rebuild Routine Slowly

You do not need to snap everything back into place on January 2nd.

Instead of rebuilding every routine at once, choose just one anchor.
This might be bedtime, mornings, or after school time.

That’s it. One place to start.

In our home, bedtime is usually the first thing I focus on, because when sleep feels steadier, everything else feels a little more manageable.

One thing that helps tremendously during this phase is letting kids see what is coming next. Visual supports take pressure off you and help children feel more secure.

Simple tools like visual daily schedule boards, routine cards, or dry-erase routine planners can make a big difference, even if you do not follow them perfectly.

These tools are not about control or perfection. They simply help the day feel less uncertain.

Step 2: Lower the Bar, Genuinely

January does not need new goals, perfect mornings, or Pinterest-worthy routines.

January needs patience, predictability, and emotional safety.

If your child needs more screen time right now, that is okay.
If getting dressed suddenly takes forever, also okay.
If transitions feel harder again, completely normal.

This is not the moment to push independence.
This is the moment to support regulation.

Many families find that deep-pressure and sensory supports help children feel more grounded during this transition period.

Things like weighted blankets or lap pads, compression shirts or vests, quiet fidget toys, or noise-reducing headphones can provide comfort without adding stimulation.

These tools do not fix anything. They simply help the nervous system feel safe enough to settle.

Step 3: Make Transitions Kinder

If transitions are especially hard right now, you are not imagining it.

Going from holiday freedom back to structure is a big shift, and transitions are often the hardest part of that change.

One thing that helps reduce power struggles is using visual or countdown timers. They take you out of the role of “the bad guy” and make expectations more concrete.

Instead of you saying “five more minutes,” the timer does it.

Is it always smooth? No.
Is it still helpful? Very much so.

Even when meltdowns still happen, timers reduce surprise, and that alone can soften the experience.

Step 4: Reset Sleep Gently

Holiday sleep schedules tend to get a little creative.

Later nights. Couch sleeping. Extra cuddles. Movies before bed.
And honestly, sometimes that is exactly what gets us through.

Now that routine is returning, sleep may feel harder again, and that is completely normal.

Instead of aiming for perfect sleep, focus on signals.
Lower lighting. The same steps each night. Predictable sounds.

Things like white noise machines, soft night lights, star projectors, or blackout curtains can help the body recognize when it is time to wind down.

Sleep is a skill, and skills get rusty when routines change. You are simply practicing again.

Step 5: Create One Calm Moment Each Day

Instead of trying to calm the entire day, aim for one peaceful pocket.

In our home, that might look like cuddling under a blanket, quiet Lego time, swinging or rocking, reading together, a warm bath, or sitting with a snack and no expectations at all.

These moments do not need to be long. They just need to exist.

Cozy supports like bean bag chairs, body socks, sensory swings, or calm corner mats can help create that sense of safety.

This teaches the nervous system something important:
Calm lives here, even when things feel hard.

A Gentle Reminder for You

If you are tired, touched out, emotional, or questioning everything, that makes sense.

You carried a lot through the holidays.

This season is not about productivity.
It is about settling.

💚 You are not behind.
💚 Your child is not failing.
💚 Your family is finding its rhythm again, slowly.

A Little Script for Hard Days

Sometimes I whisper this. Sometimes I just think it.

“It is okay that this feels hard.
We are allowed to move slowly.
We will find our calm again.”

From One Autism Parent to Another

January does not need to be perfect.
It needs to be gentle.

If today felt messy, loud, emotional, or unproductive, that does not mean tomorrow will feel the same.

It simply means you are supporting a sensitive nervous system through change.

And that work matters more than you know.