Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) appears in early childhood between 2 and 3 years of age. It mainly affects a person’s social interaction and communication, with symptoms that can include speech disturbances, repetitive and compulsive behavior, hyperactivity, anxiety, and difficulty adapting to new environments. Apart from a structured educational program and tailored therapy to help children develop skills, there are some simple everyday things we can do as parents to help our autistic child:
• Make your child feel good by focusing on the positive i.e. praise good behavior.
• Use simple and direct language in communication.
• Rely on drawings and other “show” techniques so you make communication with your child easier.
• Be alert for your child’s body language to know if something is wrong.
• Focus on routines to provide a consistent and on schedule guidance and interaction, for instance use the same method of interaction followed by teachers.
• Include more fun activities rather than just activities for the purpose of therapy.
• Be patient and give your child time to respond to treatment
• Help your child get used to the world around him/her, take them on everyday errands like grocery shopping, market visits…etc.
• Show your child unconditional love and do not compare him/her with others.
• Ask for help and get support from professionals or other families with autistic children.
• Give yourself a break and do things that you enjoy while a caregiver can take care of your child for a period of time.
References: https://www.awarenessdays.com/awareness-days-calendar/world-autism-awareness-day-2018/ http://www.webmd.com/brain/autism/parenting-child-with-autism#1 https://www.autismspeaks.org/family-services/tool-kits/100-day-kit/ten-things-every-child-autism-wishes-you-knew https://childmind.org/topics-a-z/ https://www.helpguide.org/articles/autism/autism-symptoms-and-early-signs.htm