Behavioral Strategies For Kids With Autism Spectrum
Dealing with an autistic child takes special considerations due to their challenging behavior. And no matter how challenging it is to deal with them at times (or maybe most of the time), it is still your duty as parents to provide the patience and understanding that they need.
So if you need advice on how to handle problematic actions and avoid frustrations while caring for your child, then we suggest you continue reading as we are going to share some behavioral strategies that you can do to more effectively handle kids with autism spectrum.
Here we go.
Understand That Your Child’s Condition Is Unique
First and foremost, you need to recognize the common characteristics of autism so you’ll be able to understand your child better. And that’s because autism is not just classified as a single type of deficiency, but actually a kind of developmental disability that ranges from mild to severe symptoms.
In other words, your child may have trouble reading your body language or emotions, being compelled to follow a specific routine and having a hard time shifting to another activity, having a hard time understanding other’s opinion, cannot engage in organize and productive play, or a combination of other symptoms. So it’s better to identify these symptoms now in order to devise a workable behavioral coping mechanism according to his/her condition.
Let Your Kid Know What’s Going To Happen Next
Kids with autism spectrum are often absorbed with routines and details. So it would also be helpful to set their expectations by informing them of the things that they’re going to do next after engaging with their current activity. This way, you’ll be able to help them shift to another activity easier.
If in case they cannot comprehend time on their mind, then perhaps using an actual visual timer like a sand timer or a clock timer will do the trick.
Always Be Able To Follow Through
For example, if you made a promise to play with your kid if he/she sits quietly on the couch while you talk to a friend on the phone, then you need to be truthful with what you have said. You may give your child a choice what he/she can do while waiting for your phone conversation to finish, but you must make sure to always follow through to help them develop productive behavior.
Show Appreciation Every Time Your Kid Complies With Your Requests
In short, complement your child for following your instructions so they’ll be more obedient to you next time. And if in case they become unruly in public, say, shouting inside a movie house then you can apply a bit of reverse psychology by saying a ‘praise phrase’ like, “Good job whispering!”, or “Thank you (name of your child) for being respectful inside the cinema. This strategy is extremely helpful, especially if you want to teach your child about being emotionally sensitive to other people.
Consult A Professional Behavior Consultant
And lastly, if you want information on dealing with the autism spectrum condition more effectively, then we recommend seeking the services of a professional behavior consultant as they are more capable of providing the kind of advice that you need to address your child’s emotional and developmental needs.
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