Autism spectrum disorders are a group of developmental disorders characterized by social, communication, and behavioral issues.
Children with autism have difficulties with living independently, communicating with others, and understanding their emotions. The good news is that there are things you can do at home to help your child learn better-coping skills for autism.
Article Contents
- 1 The first step is to get your child’s attention.
- 2 Try one-word requests.
- 3 Reinforce good behavior.
- 4 Remember to use words, not gestures.
- 5 Practice following directions.
- 6 Use objects you already have to teach new skills.
- 7 Teach your child about boundaries and privacy.
- 8 Practice calming techniques with your child.
- 9 There are ways to help your child with autism outside of a clinical setting.
- 10 Conclusion
The first step is to get your child’s attention.
The first step is to get your child’s attention. This can be a challenge, especially for those with autism who often have difficulty focusing on one thing for an extended period of time.
To get their attention:
- Focus on the child’s interests. If you notice that your child has a particular interest in something—like dinosaurs or trains—talk about it! Ask questions like “Do you like dinosaurs?” or “Do you have a train set at home?” If they don’t know what they’re talking about, explain it to them using simple words and phrases (e.g., “A dinosaur is any animal that walked on four legs instead of two).
- Use their name in a gentle tone without shouting or raising your voice; this will help them feel safe around you while also helping them focus on what’s going on around them instead of being distracted by loud noises like yelling or arguing with other people nearby.* Be consistent with how often and loudly each word should be said; if someone says “hello” every day at lunchtime then every morning before breakfast too! But make sure not too many times per week though because otherwise, people might start getting annoyed 🙂
Try one-word requests.
One of the most important things you can do for an autistic child is to make sure that their needs are met.
One way to do this is by using one-word requests, which are simple requests that often go unanswered by other children.
For example, if your child asks for a snack and you give him/her some food without saying anything else, they’ll become frustrated and upset because they aren’t getting what they want!
Instead of saying “What do you want?” or “Would you like something?” try using one-word answers instead: “Can I get some water?” or “Do you want milk with your cereal?
Read also: Why Freedom and Safety are most important for Special Needs Kids
Reinforce good behavior.
- Reinforce good behavior with a reward. The best rewards are those that your child can see, hear and feel—and taste! You could give him or her a sticker for doing their chores, or buy them ice cream as an incentive to brush their teeth before bedtime.
- Praise your child’s efforts when they do something well. This reinforces positive behaviors and makes it easier for them to continue making them in the future. Hug or high-five your child when he/she does something right; this shows appreciation for the effort put forth by each person involved in the activity. Play games together at home that involve cooperation such as Simon Says (where you say “Simon says…” then do whatever command comes next) or Simon Says More (where you add another command after each word).
Remember to use words, not gestures.
- Use words to tell your child what to do.
- Use words to tell your child what not to do.
- Use words to tell your child how you want them to know something.
Read also: How to Deal with Autism Behaviour Problems
Practice following directions.
- Use a timer and keep instructions simple.
- Use pictures, visual aids, and props if possible.
- Reward your child for following directions without being asked to do so every time they are given.
Avoid using negative words when giving directions. For example, instead of saying “Don’t touch that sharp tool!” say “Please use this file for smoothing wood and not this saw blade.” -Create a game out of following directions and give your child a reward when they do so.
Use objects you already have to teach new skills.
- Use objects you already have to teach new skills.
- Use toys to teach new skills. For example, if your child has trouble putting together a puzzle or assembling blocks into shapes, use the pieces of the puzzle or blocks themselves as part of the lesson by asking him/her to place them in specific ways on a table before helping them put it together (for example, stacked in order from largest at the bottom to smallest at top). This helps reinforce what was learned while also making it engaging for both of you!
- Use books as an opportunity for discussion about how pictures make words appear different depending on how they are drawn; this can be done by pointing out different color combinations within photos on pages in books that relate directly back to topics discussed previously such as colors used within artwork found elsewhere around the home during playtime activities such as painting with fingerpaints etcetera…
Teach your child about boundaries and privacy.
In order to be able to make sense of his or her world, a person needs the ability to define their own boundaries.
This includes what is private and public, what is acceptable behavior in public places, and when you can interact with others without being disturbed (e.g., at home).
When we don’t know where our bodies end and other people begin, we cannot tell them “no” effectively.
If you want your child to feel safe enough with strangers that they will ask permission before touching them on their arm or face instead of just grabbing them by surprise whenever they can get away with it—then teaching him/her about boundaries will help achieve this goal!
Practice calming techniques with your child.
If you’re looking for calming techniques, here are some that may work for your child.
- An activity that gets the brain moving, like playing with blocks or doing art.
- A sensory-friendly environment that is calm and quiet. This could include music, water sounds, etc., but not loud noises (like a vacuum).
- A “calming” toy that helps to reduce anxiety without being overstimulating—something like a stuffed animal or blanket will do nicely!
Read also: 15 Things To Know About Dating & Autism
There are ways to help your child with autism outside of a clinical setting.
Now that you have a better understanding of what autism is and how it can affect your child, let’s talk about some ways you can help him or her improve at home.
The first thing I want to say is that it’s important for parents to be consistent with their children when it comes to helping them deal with their sensory issues.
This means using the same methods every day, even if they seem like small changes from day to day. The repetition will make an impact on your child’s behavior and ability to learn new things as well as reduce anxiety levels so that he can focus on other things in life besides his disorder itself.
For example: If you’ve been using pictures of objects or animals all along, try replacing them with something else (like shapes) instead so that your child doesn’t get bored or frustrated by having nothing new each time they practice a skill like counting objects out loud or identifying different textures on surfaces around them (such as sandpaper).
Another thing worth mentioning here is visual aids—especially if there aren’t any other sensory tools around!
You could create homemade toys like puzzles where parts come together when clicked into place; these types of activities help kids feel more confident because they know exactly what needs doing next before proceeding further down their path towards completion.”
Conclusion
We hope these tips will help you find new ways to interact with your child. Remember that autism is a spectrum disorder and there are many different levels of severity. Children with autism can be successfully treated with extensive therapy, but it may take time for them to learn how to do everything on their own. As long as your child is willing, positive reinforcement and patience are key!