A lot of people are partially familiar with autism, however, if you’ve never met someone who is diagnosed with it or, you are not the parent of a child who is on the spectrum, then it’s highly unlikely you can fully understand it.
Many of you may be able to make a difference between someone who has an ASD and the one who doesn’t, however, this condition is very complex and requires lots of effort and dedication in order to help a person lead a normal life and thrive.
Do these kids and adults have different needs than the ones who are not autistic? What can be done to cater to their needs and, at the same time, make them happy? These are the questions that are going to be answered today, so stay tuned if you are interested in exploring this topic a bit more.
Visuals Are Better Than Verbal
Imagine yourself in this situation. Namely, you recently bought a new appliance, that you do not know how to utilize, that seems a bit complicated to assemble. You know, that in these instances, you must resort to instructions in order to put together the right way.
So, what would you prefer? Written instructions, or diagrams? Most of you would probably opt for the second option. Well, the situation is no different with children who are on the spectrum. They also prefer images instead of words.
If you flood them with verbal instructions, you will most likely further confuse them and make them feel rather overwhelmed. A vast majority of them will probably lose their focus as well. On the flip side, when you have pictures and videos, things are going to be much clearer for them.
For instance, if you want to help a child acquire a new skill, then you should consider using a step-by-step picture guide. That’s going to be a lot more appealing to them and will easily grab their attention. After all, don’t you think that it’s much better when you follow instructions that are packed with images than the ones that contain nothing but words?
Work On Their Social Skills
There’s a common misconception that kids who are diagnosed with ASD are not particularly interested in communicating with their peers, or other people in general. That couldn’t be farther from the truth.
A vast majority of them are, in fact, longing for any form of interaction, however, they simply haven’t managed to develop the necessary social skills that are going to help them form friendships with others.
When you are a parent of a kid who is on the spectrum, something like this can truly be very heartbreaking. However, there’s a silver lining in these types of situations, and it comes in the form of autism social skills programs that are designed to help these children practice their social skills, and simultaneously, decrease isolation, and boost their self-esteem. If you want to make this form of training even more efficient, then it would be wise to put your trust in the hands of social skills therapists because they have a plethora of experience when it comes to this, and they are going to help your little one develop required social skills.
These interventions are not as demanding as you may think. On the contrary. They are quite straightforward, yet pretty efficient and they can positively influence your child’s life. During these programs, your child (and any other autistic person who enrolls in them) will learn these things:
- They’ll be able to figure out what others are thinking or feeling
- They will understand different facial expressions and body language
- They will comprehend social norms
- It wouldn’t be too difficult for them to adapt to different social environments
- They’ll know how to react to various conflicts and disputes
Make Use Of Sensory Toys
A lot of kids who are on the spectrum oftentimes struggle with sensory issues. What are sensory issues? Namely, they influence how these children are going to react to different sorts of stimuli, like touch, smells, sounds, tastes, and sights.
If you noticed lately that your little one struggles with it as well, then it definitely means that it’s time to make use of sensory toys because they are going to encourage your kid’s senses in different effective, yet safe ways through play.
Over time, your kid will learn how to comprehend these senses much better and will be able to handle them the right way. There are numerous sensory toys on the market, however, the ones that are the most common include the following:
- Putty
- Sensory mats
- Chew toys
- Reflective balls
Provide Your Little One With A Soothing Environment
Although nobody reacts positively to stressful situations, children who are on the spectrum are even more triggered by them. That’s exactly why you first need to understand what stresses them out the most and then make sure to either completely get rid of these stressors (which is frequently impossible) or at least restrict them as much as you can.
Of course, what you need to keep in mind is that every kid is different as far as this is concerned. Some will be bothered by noise, while there will be children who do not like places that are too quiet.
The point is that every kid will react to things differently, but it’s up to you to determine what upsets your little one the most and then focus on creating the environment that’s going to make them feel safe and calm.
They Are Passionate About Various Things Too!
Just like every other person, autistic kids are also passionate about different things. if you’re unsure what your little one is passionate about, then you need to openly talk about this topic, and concurrently, encourage them to express their interests. As a parent, you need to let them know that they shouldn’t be ashamed of anything that piques their interest.
The reality is that life can be full of various challenges. This applies to every single person in the world, however, the situation can be even more difficult with kids who are on the spectrum. Therefore, you should do whatever it takes to ensure they lead a fulfilled and normal life as much as possible.
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