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Parenting a child with autism can be very difficult. You will face many challenges in providing such children with basic life training. But it’s important to remember that every child on the autism spectrum is unique. Keeping this uniqueness in mind, you will need to customize your parenting approach.
If you are looking to find some help regarding the autism parenting approach, we’ve got you. Below in this article, we will explore ten compassionate ways to support your child with autism. These ways will help you promote their development and create an environment they like.
Let’s start reading to find out!
- Understand their Sensory Sensitivities
One of the key characteristics of autism is sensory sensitivity. Children with autism may experience heightened sensitivity or indifference to certain sensory stimuli. Understanding your child’s sensory needs is important to offer them a comfortable environment.
Some children may benefit from sensory-friendly spaces, while others might be comfortable with sensory input. You will need to observe your child’s reactions to different sensory experiences to provide the right environment.
As a general approach, children with sensory sensitivities find comfort in playing with sensory tools. These tools include fidget toys, noise-canceling headphones, and sensory mats. Providing your child with these tools will help them self-regulate in intense situations.
- Establish PredictaBble Routines
Children with autism often find comfort in routines and predictability. Establishing a consistent daily schedule can provide a sense of security to such children. These consistent routines also reduce anxiety and promote a smoother day-to-day experience.
You can create visual schedules to provide your autistic child with a sense of predictability. Be flexible in these schedules and allow room for adjustments. Your focus should be on maintaining a sense of routine to make the child feel comfortable.
Communicate with them in advance if there are any changes in the schedule. Prepare them for transitions and help them understand shifts in their routine. Your help in this regard will allow them to understand the predictability of their day.
- Help Them with Potty Training
Potty training can be an overall difficult experience for every parent. For those with autistic children, it may need a more individualized and patient approach. Look if your child is ready for potty training. You can identify it by considering their ability to communicate and follow simple instructions.
When you know they are ready to learn, start introducing the concept gradually. You can use visual supports like social stories or picture schedules to explain the steps involved in using the toilet. Just like mentioned above, focus on maintaining a consistent potty routine.
Take your child to the bathroom at regular intervals, especially after meals or before bedtime. These scheduled intervals will provide them with a sense of predictability. You can use sensory-friendly bathroom accessories like soft towels or comfortable toilets to help them further.
Take help on autism and potty training from an expert source, so you can understand how to approach it better.
- Teach Effective Communication Strategies
Communication difficulties are common in children with autism. These difficulties can take the shape of speech delays or challenges in understanding non-verbal cues. Tailoring your communication style to your child’s needs is important in this regard.
Use clear and concise language, visual supports, and gestures to improve their understanding. Social stories or visual prompts can also be effective in explaining social situations. These prompts will provide your child with a visual guide to approach social interactions.
You can also use other forms of communication, such as visual aids, sign language, or augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) devices. Also, focus on promoting an open and supportive communication environment to make your child feel comfortable in expressing themselves.
- Promote Social Skills Development
As autistic children feel difficulty in communication, social interactions will be very challenging for them. You can include structured social activities and playdates to provide opportunities for socialization. Focus on teaching specific social cues and skills through role-playing or social stories.
Teaching social skills this way will help your child understand how to approach social interactions. Consider enrolling your child in social skills groups or activities tailored to their interests. These activities will provide a supportive environment for practicing and refining their social abilities.
Encourage your child if they try to engage in social experiences. Celebrate their small victories in this regard, and be patient as your child develops their social skills over time. Providing your child with ample time will improve their social skills and confidence in social gatherings.
- Build Self-Care Skills
Caring for others is encouraged, but self-care should be the top priority for your child. Self-care will lead to independence in daily activities. Teach them how to dress, prepare themselves for an outing, and cook meals. Just be sure to break down all these tasks into smaller steps to make them easy to approach.
Praise your child when they complete a task independently. Small encouragements will motivate them and offer a positive environment where they can learn and accomplish further.
You can collaborate with occupational therapists if you don’t know how to build self-care skills in your child. These therapists will tailor specialized interventions to your child’s needs. With the help of these interventions, your child can learn independence and an improved self-care routine.
- Create a Safe and Calming Environment
Children with autism are very sensitive to stimuli. They need a safe and calming environment to thrive. Ensure to designate a quiet and sensory-friendly space where your child can retreat when feeling overwhelmed. This space should include comfort items and sensory toys for your child.
These comfort items will provide them with a sense of security, and they will be likely to react normally. Pay attention to lighting and sound when creating a sensory-friendly space for your child. Make adjustments as needed to create a soothing atmosphere free of intense sound or light.
Weighted blankets and calming activities in this place can help your child self-regulate when they are feeling intense stress or anxiety.
