Example of a mission plan with sticking to routines

Lots of kids have fears or anxiety when there are changes in their routine. Sometimes this gets in the way of doing fun and interesting things, like being with friends, going to new places, and being around new people.

For example, Neil is very anxious when his schedule changes. He doesn’t like when he suddenly needs to go somewhere when he is not expecting it, or when his mother drives home from school using a different path, or when his dad picks him up. If there is a change, he will ask his parents questions about the new plan over and over and make sure he knows everything about the plan. Here are some examples of how Neil and his family can challenge his fear and work towards the goal of Neil being okay with changes in routine when he is notified right before they are happening. They are all examples of exposure activities he can do on a mission plan for anxiety about his schedule changing. The first examples are the easiest for Neil to do, the later ones are harder because they make him feel more anxious.

Example 1: In the morning, Neil’s mom will tell him that they are making a stop on the way home to his favorite ice cream shop and reminds him when she picks him up. They drive to the ice cream store on their way home from school. This is an exposure challenge because it is a change in the usual routine, but Neil is still given plenty of warning and gets to do something he likes.

Example 2: Neil’s mom will remind him that when she picks him up that they are stopping at his favorite ice cream shop on the way home and proceeds to drive to the ice cream store on their way home from school and get Neil a snack. This is more challenging than the last example because Neil did not have a warning that morning.

Example 3: Neil’s mother will inform Neil in the morning that they are making a fun special stop on the way home and reminds him when she picks him up. She will not respond to Neil’s questions about where they are going at any time. Instead, she says, “it’s a surprise.” They will stop somewhere that Neil likes on the way home.

Example 4: Neil’s mother will inform him when she picks him up that they are making a fun special stop on the way home. She will not respond to Neil’s questions about where they are going, and they will stop somewhere that Neil likes on the way home, like a favorite comic store or a park. Again, this is a tougher challenge for Neil because he had less of a warning about a change in the routine, even though he gets to do something fun.

Example 5: Neil’s mother will inform Neil in the morning that they will be driving one of two different ways home. When she picks him up, she reminds him and has him pick a slip of paper out of a bowl. Whatever street is on the slip of paper he picks will be the way they drive home. This is a great way for Neil to practice being flexible with a heads up first.

Example 6: Neil’s mother will inform when she picks him up that they will be driving one of two different ways home. She has him pick a slip of paper out of a bowl. Whatever street is on the slip of paper he picks will be the way they drive home

Example 7: Neil’s mother will inform him when she picks him up that they will be driving a new way home.

Example 8: Neil’s mother will inform him when she picks him up that she needs to run an errand on the way home. Neil will then accompany her on her errand on the way home.