Best tips for parents


Raising Children With High Functioning Autism

If your child has been diagnosed with highTip 3 - Create a personalized behavior plan -
functioning autism, parenting can be aYou can't rely on the parenting methods that
challenge. The main reason is becausework for parents with regular children, or
autistics do not think and mentally developeven those who have a child with high
the same way as the average child, and sofunctioning autism. You need to create a
must be taught individually and differently.program that is specifically oriented around
Therefore, the challenge is finding out whatthe interests and needs of your child. This
parenting methods work for your autisticmeans analyzing your child's behavior and
child. Essentially, it's a lot of trial andcreating a personal program based on his/her
error.behavioral patterns. This is how you will
eventually get your child to learn, respond
Raising a child with high functioning autismand  interact  with  others.
can be made easier by providing children with
the necessary therapy they require. However,Tip 4 - Focus on improvement - Instead of
aside from therapy, the following are 5 basictrying to explain to your child what you
parenting tips that may prove helpful alongdon't like when they do something you deem
the  way:inappropriate or unproductive, focus on
improving their behavior. If you want to
Tip 1 - Create Schedules - Most autistics,improve on past behaviors, teach new
including those with high functioning autism,"acceptable"  ones  to  replace  the  old.
resist change and insist on routine. Creating
schedules helps autistic children to betterTeaching new behavioral skills will take
comprehend situations and learn. You need toplenty of time, patience and practice, but
provide your child with a daily schedule thateventually the new acceptable behaviors will
shows him/her the order of activities theyreplace  those  you  don't  approve  of.
will experience. If your child has difficulty
reading,  create  a  picture  schedule.Tip 5 - Sensitivity alert! - Make sure you
are aware of the triggers that will upset
Furthermore, telling a child in advance thatyour child, so you can do your best to ensure
an activity is about to change, helps tothey are avoided. Some issues that tend to
create an easier transition for them. Forupset those with high functioning autism
instance, tell your child "In 5 minutes,include,  but  are  not  limited  to:
we're going to stop coloring and read a
story".-  Sudden  loud  sounds  (IE.  alarms)
Tip 2 - Create understanding - Make sure your-  Unusual  smells  in  a  particular  room
child understands what you want him/her to
do. Ensure that the task you are asking is-  Discomfort  when  touched
achievable and you understand the specific
way in which your child learns and reacts to-  Being  bumped
information  told  to  him/her.
Although you can't ensure your child will
For instance, you should refrain from usingalways be safe from sensitive issues, by
figures of speech as part of instruction. Aknowing what they are helps you to have more
figure of speech is when you use ancontrol. Like any child, the less stress your
expression that has a non-literal meaningautistic child has, the more productive they
(IE. metaphors, similes, etc.) This form ofwill  be.
language will be lost on an autistic. Thus, a
better choice would be to use a visual aidRemember, as a parent of a child with high
such as a picture or a demonstration, tofunctioning autism, you need to learn how to
clarify  the  task.go with the flow, be creative, patient - and
above all - maintain a positive attitude.



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