How to strengthen contact with ASDchildren.
Although their brains work differently, you can communicate with children with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder). Think of every communication as a brick. At first, the bricks are wet and don't support much, but each brick solidifies and eventually supports the bricks that will be placed on it. As the bricks solidify, they begin to form a foundation.
A perfect example is the following communication between my friend and her autistic daughter Li. Li recently returned to middle school and she didn't always answer when her parents asked her how she was doing at school.
However, one week after school started, My friend applied for a part-time retail job. She hasn't worked in public for many years, and her anxiety about applying for a job shocked her. She thought, "What if some people don't like me or I don't like some of them? What if I'm not happy there? What if they expect too much from me?"
So, she decided to share with her daughter Li how she felt about her new job and what she was worried about. Li's face was filled with a bright smile, "This is how I feel about school! Now you know how I feel; welcome to my world!"
That's when My friend realized there was another way to communicate with her autistic daughter. By learning how to make these connections, you can prepare your children and support them through the transition period even if you are not around them.
The following are some ways to communicate with children with autism:
Share and feel
3 Highlights to your differences, it is better to pay attention to the similarities between you and your children. They are autistic people and do things differently.
Respect children's needs for everyday structure
When they know what is going to happen, anxiety will decrease, making communication easier. Li was a poor kid before My friend arranged a strict schedule for Li. Li happily grabbed the structure, and as a toddler, she would even start climbing the stairs to her bedroom before she knew it was nap time. Consistent routines can help your child feel safe and give them a sense of control over changes in their lives.
Assumable ability
When autism is diagnosed, neurologists usually underestimate your cancer . They will tell you everything your child can’t do. In fact, They can communicate with you; it may just look different. Assume they can and provide patience when needed.
Choose your child
Lack of control will breed anxiety for autistic patients; even if the choice is yours, try to give them choices. Letting children with autism make choices help develop problem-solving skills, build self-esteem, teach responsibility for making choices, and help reduce conflict. Opportunities to communicate and make choices help reduce the chances of interfering behavior and enable children to control all aspects of their lives.
Simplify your language
If your child can’t speak, try speaking with a single word. For example, if the child is playing with building blocks, please hold the building blocks and say "building blocks". If your child already speaks a single word, try short phrases such as “stacked blocks” or “blocks.” As things go, start adding one or more words to a simple phrase.As a general rule of thumb, speak in phrases that have one more word than your child uses.
Learn how they have fun and join them
script is an activity where children with autism will extract lines or entire scenes from books or shows and use them to communicate. Christine would do it with Carly; it became a game between them, a way to have fun and connect. Christine can start writing scripts when Carly gets angry, thus decomposing the situation.
bottom line
communication with your autistic kids can help them complete the transition, such as returning to school or moving from one activity to another. Using communication to strengthen your relationship with your children (remember the building blocks) will ultimately give you a better understanding of how they feel. When your child feels understood, their anxiety will decrease, making the transition easier.
Although every autistic person can learn to communicate, it is not always spoken. Nonverbal individuals with autism can contribute a lot to society and can lead meaningful and fulfilling lives.
