Children on the autistic spectrum struggle with social interactions. They often need help learning how to act in different social situations as it doesn’t come naturally to them. It’s best to built up their social skills over time with social activities that focus on learning how to interact with others in a fun and friendly environment.
Did you know that 1 out of every 68 children is autistic? Whether your child has been formally diagnosed or just exhibits the symptoms, raising a child with autism requires a different style of parenting.
Read on for 9 top tips for parents with autistic children.
1. Get Gut and Immune Systems Balanced
Children with autism tend to have more gastrointestinal symptoms such as stomach pain, diarrhea, and constipation than other kids.
Your autistic child may also be a selective eater. This can make these symptoms worse.
The digestive and immune systems in the human body are susceptible to a host of issues. When you fortify these areas, coping with autism becomes more manageable.
2. Look for the Extraordinary
Raising a child with autism is going to be challenging. You know that already. But that doesn’t mean that your child is his or her difficulties.
Do your best to hunt for the hidden treasure inside your child. Whatever they are, rejoice in your child’s strengths and unique insights. Celebrate those and hold them up like beacons of hope.
3. Know That Not Everything Will Work
One of the hardest but crucial parenting tips for autism is to be OK with the fact that it’s not all going to work.
You’ll try dozens of therapies idea and miracle recipes you read about online. And some of them will help your child thrive. But others won’t.
Each child with autism is unique. Whether it’s ABA therapy or a controlled diet, stick to what works for them.
4. Create a Calm Space
One of the best things you can do to help your child who is coping with autism is to create a safe space.
Help your child anticipate when he or she is going to have a meltdown. Teach them to tell you that they need a break from the overwhelming stimulus.
Even if it’s in the middle of the happy birthday song. Allow your child the freedom to pull out without judgment.
Becoming familiar with how your child’s brain makes them feel can help both of you to manage better.
5. Create Consistency
Raising a child with autism will require you to be more consistent than you might otherwise be.
Children with autism struggle to apply rules form one setting to another.
Creating a consistent environment is the best thing you can do for your autistic child. This will help reinforce the learning he or she is doing at therapy or school.
Though it can be difficult, always deal with your child’s difficult behavior in the same way. Be consistent to help your child understand what you expect.
6. Reward Good Behavior
Along the same lines, positive reinforcement is necessary when raising a child with autism.
Work to catch your child doing something good. Praise them for their behavior. And make sure you are very specific about what it is that you liked.
This will help cement those skills. Besides verbal rewards, stickers, hugs, and letting your child play with a beloved toy are all options.
7. Stick to a Schedule
Children who are coping with autism tend to do best when they have a routine that is precise. They crave the consistency and predictability of a schedule.
Make a schedule for your child that includes time for eating, school, bedtime, free play, and so on. Try to stick to the schedule as much as possible.
If the schedule needs to be disrupted, give your child plenty of notice. Disruptions to the routine are a much bigger ordeal for children with autism than they might be for other children.
Bear that in mind when you plan social events and activities.
8. Educate Your Family and Friends
The moment you become a parent to a child with autism, you become an ambassador for autism awareness.
It’s now your job to let your friends and family know what goes on in your home. You may not feel like taking on one more thing after all the other things on your plate. But keeping everything to yourself is not healthy.
And it doesn’t serve the wider community to remain ignorant. You are less likely to get unsolicited advice and more understanding when others grasp what life is like for you and your family.
Be vocal about what you are going through. Even if it’s just to get it off your chest.
It’s also smart to ask for the support you need. A meal delivery once a week, someone to come fold laundry, etc. Be open about your needs and they are more likely to get met.
9. Don’t Neglect Self Care
Coping with autism isn’t going to get easier. You are embarking on a lifelong marathon. And it’s impossible to go, go, go indefinitely.
Understand that you and your partner both need to take care of yourselves too. You owe it to yourself, your child, and your partner to be whole, healthy, and happy.
Do what you need to do in order to get there. So lock the door and have a bubble bath once a week. Or go out to the movies with your bestie.
Book your time at the gym, the spa, or whatever your thing is. Some days you will run fast and get lots done. Other times will feel like running backward in the rain.
It’s all OK. Take a breath and remember that you are worth the effort you put it.
Tips for Parents with Autistic Children
We hope these 9 tips for parents with autistic children have given you some guidance and a lot of hope.
Before you go, check out our archive of healthy recipes so you can serve something healthy and delicious for dinner tonight.