Tips for autism parents for developing their children
Autism parents have to perform a giant responsibility of parenting their autistic children. Parenting autistic individuals is a tiresome and difficult task. For parenting such individual you have to be parent, teacher, trainer, doctor, psychologist, therapist everything your child needs. You have to play all the roles at a time, all-in-one. On the other hand you have to have patience, patience and patience. You have to leave your all jobs and concentrate on the welfare of your child. Your family will be a truly autistic family.
Generally, the characteristics of autism prevail within 3 years of age of your child. When a child is diagnosed with autism, then the parents would decide their plan of action without making any delay and without being disappointed or frustrated. You have to accept the reality of the autism life and act accordingly. Please remember that autism is not a curable disease till today. But you can achieve tremendous improvement in your child if you nurture him in every step of his/her day to day life. Remember, early intervention and training can only make your child self-dependent.
In this article I would like to discuss the role of the autism parents to bring significant improvement in their autistic children after being diagnosed. The writing is based on my 21 years experience on dealing with autism as you already know that I have an autistic son.
Tips for autism parents
In the developing countries, the parents generally try to hide the autism of their children. There is reason behind it. People generally do not take it in positive spirit. Some people think it as curse from the almighty. Some of the people blame the parents for autism in their children.
We must understand that the autism of a child cannot be kept hidden, one day it will come out and everybody will come to know about the autism in your child. So the autism parents should accept the reality and practice some of the following actions to bring improvement in their autistic children:
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Adopting with the situation
–After being confirmed that your child is autistic, you should sit first with the family members and discuss with them about its gravity and consequences. Do not be panic or disappointed. Accept the autism way of life as about one in sixty parents are autism parents in the USA.
–Many people will talk many different things and will try to advice you in manifolds. Just ignore all those, proceed on your own way.
–Accept the reality of the fate as nobody is at fault for the autism in your child.
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Gather knowledge on autism
–Study and learn about the characteristics of autism and the way of dealing with autism.
–There are many good books on autism written by renowned authors. You may collect and read those books.
–There are many websites on autism like Autism Research Institute (https://www.autism.com) Autism Speaks (https://www.autismspeaks.org), Autism Society (http://www.autism-society.org) etc. which can be explored to gather knowledge on autism.
-Contact with other autism parents who have experiences on handling autism.
-Join different autism forums like Wrong Planet Autism Community Forum (http://wrongplanet.net/forums), Reddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/autism/) and others and takes part on discussion on autism issues.
-Make a network of the autism parents and exchange the views and ideas on autism and discuss the day to day behavior of the your child.
-Talk to the doctors, psychologist and therapist regularly and update the latest condition of your child.
-With the help of them find out the way of handling autism of your child. Learn how to nurture him/her for the improvement.
-Talk to the seniors in the field of autism and gather knowledge from them about the effective ways of handling their children in certain condition. You can also try it for your children.
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Schooling & Training
– Find out a good special school for your child and get him/her admitted into that school. The school should fulfill the requirements of your child.
–Observe whether he is willing to accept the environment of the school.
– Visit the school regularly to monitor his progress and keep constant contact with the teachers, caregivers and therapist about his/her progress and difficulties.
– Keep a regular contact with the school teachers, caregivers, therapists to monitor his improvement.
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Improve Socialization
– Don’t feel embarrassment for his any odd behavior, even if it is in front of your guests.
– What people say it is hardly matter; S/he is your child you are to look after his/her welfare.
—Be united and give maximum time and effort to your autism child.
– Take him to the play ground, swimming pool, gym and involve others to mix up with him. It is not easy task, but you have to do it for the betterment of your child.
– Take your autism angel to the different family gathering, group parties etc. and try to adjust him/her in that situation.
– Form groups or forums of the parents of the autistic children and exchange your sufferings and corresponding remedies.
–Follow regular routine for his development.
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Teaching Technique
– Find out the best techniques of teaching him. Find out the best techniques where he responds well.
– Don’t allow your autistic child to take control over the situation of learning. Otherwise he will not learn anything.
– Don’t force him to learn anything; create the environment and motivate him to learn it.
– Give him incentive for learning but don’t let him be dependent on the incentive.
– Try to fit yourself into your child’s world. If you can get into their world and join with them, they will feel safer and share with what is in his mind. It may be mentioned that the autistic children always expect others to enter into their world.
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Treatment & Therapies
-Visit some of the good autistic centers where you can get advices what should be done immediately.
-Be discipline and follow the advice of the doctor/psychologist.
-Have regular consultation with the doctor and therapist for his/her check-up as s/he might unable to express the difficulties.
-S/he might have night sleep problems; have patience and try to manage his/her sleep problems.
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Safety and Security
–Most of the autistic individuals are dependent on their parents. So, parents have the responsibility to ensure the safety and security of their autistic individuals.
-Inform the caretaker of your home about the autism of your child so that he is not allowed to go out of the home alone.
-Keep the home door under lock and key so that he cannot wander away from the home.
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Refreshment & Amusement
–Take him/her to the house of the relatives and neighbors and inform them about the autistic behavior of your children, so that they are aware of it.
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Autism Diets
-Give him/her food that does create excitement.
-Give up the foods that make him/her hyper.
-You may try gluten free foods.
Conclusion
Children with autism have to be dependent on their parents throughout their life. So the autism parents have to know all the tits bits to handle their autistic children effectively and efficiently. The parents have to find out the strength and weaknesses of their child. They are to give emphasis on the strength of their children for development.
Nurturing autistic children is a long-time work. So never loose your initiative. Have patience, patience and patience. Definitely, in the long run you will get the benefit.