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How To Fulfill The Everyday Needs Of An Autistic Child

Raising a child with autism is a challenge and it’s something that requires a lot of learning and patience. It brings challenges that don’t necessarily arise when bringing up a child without ASD. There are many things that require planning and thought out processes but it doesn’t mean it’s impossible.

Autism is a disorder that affects 1 in 68 people in the U.S and varies in severity depending on the individual. It comes with difficulties in social interaction and communication and is often paired with restricted thought patterns and behaviours.

Due to every case being different, there is no set way of dealing with the condition. Instead, there are guides to help you find your way and apply teachings to your situation. Just because a child has autism doesn’t mean they can’t live a happy and fulfilling life.

Here is how to try and achieve it.

Try And Be Consistent

To begin with, this will seem very difficult as consistency whilst raising a child is obviously hard to come by. Things change and situations develop into something else, but try and stay as usual as possible for the benefit of your child.

This should start when the child is young in order to make them feel as though there is a structure surrounding them. When it comes to potty training for children with autism there are going to be challenges that arise not typically found in children without ASD (Autistic spectrum disorder). Sensory overstimulation and the lack of motor skills can make it seem impossible to implement a routine, but as long as you’re consistent, things will fall into place.

When the child is a little older, it’s important to stay consistent within the environments they learn and play. Talk to their teachers and discover how they’re learning at school and try and replicate it at home. For example, children that struggle with verbal communication might use sign language at school, so use it at home, it will make them feel more comfortable and you’ll be able to communicate better with your child.

Schedules Are Important

Children with ASD thrive in a highly structured environment. Not only do they crave consistency, but they also need it, so creating a schedule and visual supports for your child will help enormously with the smaller things in life.

Make sure to include regular times for meals, any sessions with a therapist, school and bedtimes, this way they’re ready and expecting of what’s going to happen next making the change of topic much easier to transition.

young child reading a book

Reward Good Behaviour

Children with ASD struggle to understand their behaviours and don’t know if it’s right or wrong in the eyes of their parents, only if they believe it is. To understand from a young age what is expected from them, rewarding good behaviour can be a good trick to assist with that learning.

It’s much easier to set boundaries in a way they understand if they’ve been taught. They will know this if you’ve been specific about the behaviours you like and expect. Rewards come in all shapes and sizes, but keeping it simple will be beneficial, letting them play with their favourite toys for a while or giving them a sticker is a good way to enforce good behaviour.

Have A Safe Space

Creating a space for your child within the house that is specifically for them will allow them to feel safe and secure, even more so than just being at home. Make it a comfortable space that allows them to relax and do things they enjoy, whether that’s reading, writing, playing games or listening to music.

Visual cues are a good way to show your child what space is theirs, like coloured tape, for example. It’s important to remember a safe space isn’t just mentally safe, it has to be physically safe too. So if your child is prone to tantrums make sure there aren’t any unsafe or sharp objects or bits of furniture around.

Learn Non-Verbal Cues

Communication is difficult for people with ASD and it’s down to the people around then to learn how they communicate. Facial expressions, noises, hand gestures and sign language are all ways in which they attempt to talk. As a parent, you’ll find this invaluable as not only will you be able to understand your child better, but you will also be able to bond with them.

The needs of an autistic child are different from that of a child without the disorder. Learning about ASD is the first step to fulfilling the needs of your child and you’ll never stop learning, it’s a complicated thing that requires time, effort and a lot of patience. Don’t worry if you feel overwhelmed, it’s normal, and things will get better. Seek professional help if needed and never be afraid to ask your friends for some support.


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How To Fulfill The Everyday Needs Of An Autistic Child

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