Most parents spend a lot of time thinking about their child’s welfare and their future especially when the child has a health challenge.
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) are neurological complex conditions impairing social interaction and communication, such as difficulties to respond to social interactions or deficits in understanding nonverbal communication.
Moreover, persons diagnosed with ASD have restricted behavioral functions, such as stereotype behavior or inability to adjust to new situations.
Children with ASDs often exhibit more than one of these core ASD symptoms and many also suffer from associated symptoms, such as severe tantrums or sleep problems.
Caring for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) is challenging and affects family life. Apart from the medical care and therapies that you may line up to help your son or daughter, there are simple everyday things that make a difference.
Here are a few tips to follow when caring for a child with Autism.
1. Focus On The Positive
Like any other child, children with autism spectrum disorder often respond well to positive reinforcement. This means that when you praise them for good behaviors it will make them (and you) feel good.
As a parent, you have to be specific so that they know exactly what you liked about their behavior. Always find ways to reward them, either with extra playtime or a small prize.
2. Include Playtime In Their Schedule
Include activities that are pure fun in your child’s schedule, it will help your child open up and connect with you better.
3. Be Consistent With The Schedule
Children with ASDs like routines. Make sure they get consistent guidance and interaction, so they can practice what they learn from therapy. This will make learning new skills and behaviors easier, and help them apply the knowledge gained in different situations.
As a parent, talk to their teachers and therapists and try to align on a consistent set of techniques and methods of interaction so you can bring what they’re learning home.
4. Be Patient
As a parent or caregiver, you will likely try a lot of different techniques, treatments, and approaches as you figure out what’s best for your child. You have to be really patient and stay positive. Try not to get discouraged if they don’t respond well to a particular method.
5. Take Your Child With You For Daily Activities
Some children have unpredictable behaviors, so you may feel it’s safe not to expose them to certain situations. Taking them with you on some errands like grocery shopping or going into a banking hall may help them get used to the world around them.
6. Get support
Getting support online, from other families, professionals, and friends can be a great relief. Support groups can be a good way to share advice and information and to meet other parents dealing with similar challenges. Individual, marital, or family counselling can be helpful too.
7. Try Respite Care
This is when another caregiver looks after your child for a period of time to give you a short break. You’ll need it, especially if your child has intense needs due to ASD. This can give you a chance to do other things that restore your own health and that you enjoy so that you come back home ready to help your child again.
