(Newswire.net — May 11, 2023) — Helping kids with autism can be challenging for parents because there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. Every child is different, has unique needs, and requires a customized approach to support. What works for one child may not work for others. However, some things tend to work for a large number of autistic kids, but each family has to experiment to find out for themselves.
If your child has autism and you’re looking for support, here are some things other people have found helpful.
1. Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) therapy
There are a variety of therapies designed to help kids with autism, and some are more effective than others. ABA is a popular autism therapy that works well for many kids, and it can be done in-home for your convenience.
The premise behind ABA therapy is to reward desirable behaviors while discouraging unwanted behaviors. The primary goals are to improve communication and social skills. It’s a gradual process, but many people have seen their children improve with this therapy.
If you’ve tried therapy in the past without seeing results, or if therapy is something you haven’t yet explored, consider ABA for your child.
2. Solid nutrition
While there’s no specific nutritional plan for autism, many parents have found that getting their kids on a basic nutritional food plan does wonders for their anxiety and digestion issues. At the very least, eliminate junk food and fast food from your child’s diet and try not to feed them canned and frozen foods. Packaged meals are convenient, but they contain chemicals and additives that aren’t good for the body. Most people don’t notice these ingredients, but kids with autism are highly sensitive.
Cooking meals is a great way to get your child interested in new foods, once you find the right recipes. Although, before you start cooking new meals, ask your child what sounds good to them, and if they don’t know, just experiment. If they like cheese on everything, smother those vegetables in cheese. If they like plain food, cook them different vegetables to see what they prefer. Nutritional supplements are an excellent way to get your child nutrients when they won’t eat certain foods, like broccoli or spinach.
3. Express patience
Being patient with your child is critical. Kids with autism are already going to feel more anxiety than other children, and it’s important not to project your frustration onto them. They may not say anything or show signs, but they will pick up on impatience and internalize the experience.
Give your child the space to explore and figure things out on their own as much as possible. If they get frustrated, help them calmly and don’t get attached to whether or not they achieve a goal. Sometimes, just playing with a toy or puzzle is all a child is interested in doing.
4. Be careful with sarcasm and figures of speech
It’s important to be aware of the potential impact sarcasm and figures of speech can have on your child. If it seems like your child doesn’t have a sense of humor, know that kids with autism tend to take things literally. For example, if you want them to hurry up and you say “Step on it,” they might get confused and ask you what they’re supposed to step on, thinking you mean it literally. It’s not uncommon for sarcasm to fly right over their head.
Most of the time, sarcasm and funny sayings are harmless, but you never know when your child will misinterpret something in a negative or fearful way. Just because you understand that it’s meant in jest doesn’t mean your child will get that.
5. Be willing to listen to them talk about the same thing
When your child wants to talk about one thing all the time, let them share no matter how many times you’ve heard the story. Kids with autism tend to have narrow interests and get excited about sharing what they love, even if it’s all they ever seem to talk about.
Try to be interested in what they’re sharing and see things from their perspective. To them, their interests are their whole world. They’ll be happy to see you show interest in whatever excites them.
Be open to new ideas
Staying open to new ideas is the best thing you can do to help your child. Everyone has different needs, so be willing to try new things and experiment until you find solutions that work.