Why my child? This is what most parents ask when their children are diagnosed with autism. It is quite painful for parents to come to terms with the fact that this problem is actually with their own child. The neurological disorder exhibits differently in different individuals, but the fundamental truth is that autism is when a person is unable to interact and make any meaningful social contact. From here the toughest journey of parents starts as they have to introduce the child to the world outside. We have pulled together 5 tips that can make the job of parents easier and the life of children on the spectrum simpler.
Help your child connect with the world
1. Keep your cool – It gets embarrassing or even irritating for parents when their children start crying loudly for no reason. But with children on the spectrum, parents have to respond and behave differently in order to handle the tantrums well and at the same time, make their child feel comfortable in most situations, if not all.
2. Encourage eye-to-eye contact for better understanding – Everything around us is quite informative and interesting. And we all learn from our surrounding in some ways or the other. Therefore, it is very important to teach your child how to make eye contact in order to help him or her pick up non-verbal cues of communication. However, it is easier said than done. The trick is to respond positively whenever the child makes eye contact. A pat on the back or a small gift that the child loves will do perfectly alright. Let’s have a look at some techniques to improve eye contact:
- Make your child’s eye contact an occasion to celebrate
- Encourage eye contact by positioning yourself in a way that makes it easier for your child to look at you
- Make your child learn to look at you when he or she wants something from you. For example, tell your daughter that she will get things faster if she makes eye contact than when she doesn’t
3. Are there any healthy foods on your child’s platter? – It is imperative you check what your child is having on a daily basis. And it is equally important to remove the unhealthy foods from his or her diet so as to allow them to develop healthy eating habits.
4. Ignore negative behaviors – The basic principle of ABA is to reward positive behaviors. So when your child throws a tantrum or gets involved in any kind of negative behavior, simply ignore it. On the other hand, when he or she performs a task successfully, reward them with something they like the most.
5. Involve your kid in family gatherings – The best way to let your child connect to the world is to involve him or her in family gatherings such as Thanksgiving, Christmas, Birthday bashes, or even in small parties. But make sure they don’t accept any eatables without your knowledge. Also, keep a buffer zone where the child can retreat if the party atmosphere becomes too overwhelming.
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