6 Things Parents Should Never Do With Their Autistic Child
Raising a child with autism can be difficult for parents. Autistic children behave differently than normal kids, and their needs are often different. Parents should be aware of their autistic child’s behavior and know what to avoid. There is a lot of information available online about autism in kids. However, you need to find out what works best for your kid and observe them closely.
Contents
What Is Autism?
Autistic kids have different brain functioning and may exhibit the following symptoms.
- Difficulty making friends and talking to people.
- Speech issues.
- Difficulty concentrating.
- They are particular to their routine and don’t like it when someone tries to break it.
- Anxiety in social gatherings.
- Unable to recall their name and show no response when called.
- They generally avoid having eye contact and don’t know sweet gestures.
- Repetition of the exact phrases.
- Getting upset without any cause.
Although autism is incurable, there are treatments available that can lower the effects of the disease. Parents need to keep the following tips in mind.
- It is essential not to be impatient while interacting with your child.
- Kids with ASD often behave aggressively to get their parent’s attention. In such situations, parents might have a strong urge to focus on their kids. However, the best way to control aggression is to ignore this behavior.
- Show affection to your kid, but in the ways they like. Many autistic kids dislike physical touch, like hugs or kisses. Please respect their privacy and don’t try to impose your forms of affection onto them.
- Stay positive and affirmative with your kid. Work with your child on a reward basis. Encourage them to achieve more for every small achievement by giving them rewards.
- Join parent support groups. Exchanging your experiences with other parents facing similar situations can help you better deal with your kid.
What Not To Do With Your Autistic Child?
Don’t Leave Your Kid Without Supervision For A Long-Time.
You should always keep an eye on your kid and leave them under supervision if you go for long. However, it’s essential to maintain a balance. Don’t try to follow them everywhere or take your eyes off a child like the warden. Instead, remain calm, give them their personal space but keep yourself updated with their whereabouts.
Don’t Force Your Child To Rush Into Learning Things.
Parents must understand that autism affects their kids’ everyday learning and development. Do not force your kid into learning things. For example- generally, kids are ready for potty training between the ages of 2-4. However, when potty training a child with autism, they might not be prepared by this age.
Don’t Stop Your Kid From Acting Provoked Suddenly.
Stimulation helps people with autism self-regulate and cope; discontinuing it has adverse effects. Think about it:
If They Are Not Hurting Anyone Or Damaging Anything, Let Them Stim.
Don’t Try To Change Their Schedule Abruptly.
Autism can cause your kid to behave abruptly if they feel any change in their routine. They can be triggered by even small things, such as removing their books from where they usually keep them. Such meltdowns are common; you shouldn’t shout at your kids or punish them for this behavior.
Don’t Ask Them To Perform Complex Tasks.
Autistic kids need to be treated gently while asking them to do chores. For example, don’t tell them, “Your homework is pending.” Instead, ask them politely, “Please do your homework.”
Also, it would be best if you don’t talk to them like children and clearly explain what you want them to do.
You can treat your kid better if you can read their mind. Our best advice is to read forums and blogs that have experiences shared by autistic kids themselves. This will help you to get into the mind of your autistic child and what they expect from you.
Helo,I’ve found the above advice very interesting and I will try this on my 9yr old son cos these sound very familiar and affirmative