Getting a haircut
Some children find having their haircut very overwhelming and can make them very anxious, particularly for neurodivergent children the demands of the environment can be too much
Strategies to help
Prepare your child with a social story or visuals – link
There are videso of what to expect on line, it’s a good idea to wathc these you’re your child before you go
Take noise-cancelling headphones, which can cancel out all of the sounds.
Let the hairdresser know in advance if your child would prefer them not to chat
Do they have to wear a cape if they don’t like the feel of it? Is there anything they can bring form home like an old oversized shirt ?
Find a hairdresser who is understanding – they can let your child take breaks, they can talk through what they are doing if it helps. Try and book an appointment for a quiet time of day. Give the child breaks in between to not overwhelm them with the haircut. It is through this that you can manage their anxiety and make the experience more tolerable.
Does your child have sensitivities to smells – let the hairdresser know not to use any products
Take favourite toys or fiddle toys as a distraction, or take an ipad
Ask the hairdresser to demonstrate what are going to do before they do it
Reinforce the child’s good behaviour with attention or a small reward
Use a watch or timer to show how long the haircut will last
Avoid hair washing at the hairdressers if possible , start with a dry cut
Get rid of the hair as soon as possible – to avoid the feeling of hair trimmings against your child’s skin
Some haridressers work from home or come to their custoner’s homes – this gives you more control over the environement