Ignore Irrelevant Speech Vocalizations Giggling Laughing And Actions
Check this scene out: All of a sudden, Andrew, a child with Autism, breaks out in loud and animated giggling. The teacher spends the next 15 minutes asking Andrew what is so funny, she laughs with him, and goes around the room pointing out several objects and asking, “Is this what you are laughing at?” The giggling stops as abruptly as it started. The teacher is puzzled and has no idea what triggered the giggling. She was hoping for a breakthrough moment of connection with Andrew.
Rather than achieve a “breakthrough,” the teacher has just reinforced an inappropriate behavior for 15 minutes! Remember, pay attention to behaviors you want to see repeated and ignore behaviors you want to stop. What’s so inappropriate about giggling, you may ask? Nothing, if it is related to what is going on at the time. However, if you see no clear connection with what has just happened or is happening, then ignore it. You need to teach the child with Autism what is relevant speech and actions and what is irrelevant. This goes for self-stimulating behaviors, echolalia, out-of-context words and phrases, screaming, odd actions, and any other behavior that is not related to what is going on.
How To Teach An Autistic Child To Sit In A Chair: 7 Steps
Steps, we start out with very short bursts of table time.Give the command: Sit on the chair. If the child does not sit, request that your child sit down to focus on a task, never underestimate the power of your own words, running in place, You may need to have him/her sit on it outside the bathroom and slowly transition it into the bathroom, actions, and a glowing nightlight can all help an autistic child fall asleep and stay in bed all night, For example, Your child will eventually have to look you in the eyes to look at the object, so a bit of fidgeting is 2, a pupil on the autism spectrum might like to always sit in a particular spot in the classroom, structured environments with high levels of routine, A poster for educational settings > Autistic children find forming their own group intimidating, verbally reinforce it by saying
Solutions In The Classroom
The number one thing teachers can do to help ADHD students squirm and fidget less is to provide physical outlets that let them regularly release pent-up energy and improve focus.
Send ADHD students on errands. Ask your ADHD students to deliver a message to another class or take a note to the office. These tasks help kids build a sense of self-worth while providing an opportunity to stretch their legs and move around.
Let students stand and walk around between lessons. One teacher, for example, put a mini-trampoline in her classroom for kids who got restless. In the beginning of the school year, everyone used it frequently but after the novelty wore off, only the ADHD students who needed to use it continued to do so. Another teacher let students use exercise balls instead of chairs so ADHD students could move around a bit, but still stay seated.
Provide fidget objects. These object can include worry beads, Wikki Stix, and squeeze balls anything that can be quietly squished or handled. Not having to focus on staying absolutely still conserves the students energy for focusing on class lessons.
Keep lessons short and provide frequent breaks. You can even do this during tests if you sense that a student needs to move.
Also Check: Child Symptom Diagnosis
Ot Strategies To Help Children Who Cant Sit Still
Does your child seem more active than their same-aged peers or pursue movement? Does your child have a hard time sitting in their chair at school or during meal time? Is your child fidgety? If you answered yes to these questions, then read on to learn more about possible reasons why your child is having a hard time sitting still and occupational therapy strategies that can help your child!
Possible Reasons That Kids Cant Sit Still
There are many factors that contribute to a child having trouble sitting still. One reason is Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder . With the number of children being diagnosed with ADHD increasing, it is not uncommon for children nowadays to have trouble sitting still. If your child has ADHD, they may seem restless, constantly active, and have limited attention.
Your child may also be experiencing difficulties sitting still if they have sensory processing issues. These sensory issues might occur in children with autism spectrum disorder or sensory processing disorder . Children may be a sensory seeker and have difficulty with self-regulation impacting their ability to sit still.
How Occupational Therapy Can Help
OT Strategies That Can Help Children Who Cant Sit Still
Using a fidget: Sometimes giving the child a fidget toy to hold during class will keep their hands busy and help them to stay engaged and sit still.
Dressing Skills & Hyperlexia: 30 Tips & Strategies To Try
1. Label bins and drawers so your child knows where to find socks, underwear, etc. You can use just words, just pictures, or pictures paired with words. You could also include notes about when to wear certain clothing right on the labels.
2. Use a visual schedule, chart, or checklist that outlines what clothing your child needs to wear. You can always just write this down on a whiteboard each morning or use this blank routine chart.
3. Explicitly teach them how to pick clothing thats appropriate for the weather, season, and/or occasion. This free choosing what to wear social story can help.
4. Opt for loose clothing that is easy to put on. That means skip the skinny jeans, anything with snaps or buttons, or things with zippers or belts. Instead, focus on clothing that will build your childs confidence because theyre easy to put on. Basically, pick less complicated clothing options and consider outdoor gear too .
5. Use socks that have colored heels so your child can easily tell which way the socks go. The colored heel acts as a visual cue.
6. Explicitly teach them how to find the tag so they know which is the front or back and which is the inside or outside.
7. Label clothing and shoes with words like front, back, left, or right so they know which way the clothing should be worn.
9. Have them get dressed in front of a mirror so they can see what is happening. This tip works great for buttoning up shirts too.
10. Start by teaching them how to undress first.
Don’t Miss: Is Next For Autism A Good Charity
Tips For Helping Your Child Learn To Get Dressed
If you can be positive and supportive, your child is more likely to cooperate. So a lot of praise will go a long way, even if your child has put his pants on backwards! Here are some practical tips to help.
Making time
- Allow a realistic amount of time for getting dressed.
- If youre often rushed in the morning, try choosing clothes with your child the night before.
- When youre in a hurry, let your child do the easy tasks and help her with the difficult tasks.
- Practise getting dressed when you and your child arent in a hurry or tired.
Choosing appropriate clothes
- Let your younger child choose from a couple of options, like two t-shirts. Older or more mature children might be able to choose their own clothing.
- Talk about the weather when you and your child are choosing clothes. Ask your child whether its hot or cold, raining or sunny.
- Teach your child the difference between dirty and clean clothes for example, Dirty clothes go in the laundry basket. You can wear them again when theyre back in the drawer. You can use some simple guidelines, like wearing clean underwear and socks every day.
Making it easier
Tying up shoelaces is a skill that most five-year-olds are still learning. Our handy illustrated guide to tying shoelaces outlines some easy steps for teaching your child this skill.
What Age Do Autistic Children Talk
Autistic children with verbal communication generally hit language milestones later than children with typical development.
While typically developing children produce their first words between 12 and 18 months old, autistic children were found to do so at an average of 36 months.Since each autistic child is unique in their development, the age when they produce their first words differs.
Until recently, parents and caregivers of children with autism were made to believe that their child would not speak ever if they did not do so by the time they turn 4 or five.
However, a recent study showed that most of the children participating in the study acquired language skills, and almost half of them became fluent speakers. More than 70% could speak in simple phrases. This indicates that language-delayed children with autism could eventually develop speech.
Don’t Miss: Aspergers Prognosis
Positive Sense Of Self:
Along with the many benefits listed above, the practice of yoga can also support children with ASD in developing self-confidence and self-esteem. Balancing poses and standing poses in particular are exciting and powerful poses for children with ASD to practice. Whether its a standing, balancing or seated pose, any pose can be modified to support the ability of the child in order to build up the childs self-esteem and help the child feel successful.
How To Get Them To Sleep In Their Own Bed
An autistic child often wants to be near one or both parents, and that includes in the bedroom. Unfortunately, this sets a dangerous precedent and also makes restful sleep for mom and dad challenging. It also eliminates any chance of romance.
There are three tips to try that many parents have found successful:
Also Check: Is It Possible To Outgrow Autism
Establish A Routine With Them
The world is often a confusing and anxiety-inducing place for autistic children. This is why they find great comfort in a predictable and stable routine. Fortunately, the structured nature of school is perfect for this, but you need to find a way to make their daily routine clear to them.
Creating a visual timetable is an effective and widely-used method for doing so. This involves placing images and simple words on a timetable, in chronological order, to describe the activities and transitions in the childs day. Having this visual aid gives the child a sense of security, while also acting as a reminder for those who support them.
Speak Slowly Clearly And Specifically
Remember, persons with Autism may have difficulty processing what you say. At first, speak slowly and clearly so the child receives all to most of your verbal cues. . Make sure the child is looking at your face to assure he or she also picks up on your nonverbal cues.
Be specific in your language. Until you know the child understands colloquialisms or abstractions, do not use them. For example, rather than say, “Take a seat,” say, “Sit on the chair.” Many children with Autism are very literal and may misunderstand your nonliteral phrases – no matter how common they seem to be. For example, a parent once told me that she was puzzled when her child kept holding his worksheets up to his face, until she realized that she had told him, “Keep your eyes on the paper.” Watch your nonliteral speech – it can have unforeseen consequences!
Use nouns as nouns, verbs as verbs, and adjectives as adjectives. For example, if you are teaching colors by showing different color blocks, do not say, “This is blue,” rather say, “This is a blue block.” Do not say, “This is a cow,” if showing a picture of a cow. Instead, say,”This is a picture of a cow.”
Other statements to avoid: “Do this for me.” . “Let’s put on our coat.” . Also avoid “Please” and “Thank you” when giving commands or instructions, these are polite words but not needed for expected behavior.
Don’t Miss: Is The Good Doctor Actor Really Autistic
The Challenge Of Getting Your Autistic Child To Concentrate
Finding the best way to have your autistic child sit and focus can be quite the task for parents, therapists, and teachers. Since autistic children are all different there is no one best way to achieve this. The key is to identify what sensory inputs can distract or over stimulate your child and eliminate them when trying to teach a skill or modify a behavior. In a great article written for the autism website autismconsultingandtraining.com, Jennifer Lingle asks a 2 very simple question. When a child with autism behaves in an undesirable manner, what is it they are trying to communicate? And what sensory issues are affecting the child and how can we make it easier for them? By figuring these two things out it may make it easier to help your child calmed down and refocus. Sometimes its as simple as just taking a break, using a padded seat, or a weighted lap tray. Sometimes even a little fidget toy can help them calm down, relax, and focus on the task at hand.
Awareness And Expression Of Emotions:
Not only can the practice of yoga bring more awareness to social cues such as facial expressions, actions and social behaviors but it can also bring more awareness to childrens emotions and how they are feeling. Because children with ASD often have difficulty with expressive and receptive communication, they may act out their emotions in unexpected or inappropriate ways.
Breathing strategies can be taught to children with ASD in order to release difficult or uncomfortable emotions such as anger, frustration or anxiety in more healthy and constructive manners. Providing an outlet for children with ASD to express their emotions gives them the message that its OK to feel these emotions and when expressed constructively can support them in feeling better emotionally.
Recommended Reading: What Is The Life Expectancy Of People With Autism
You May Like: Can Mild Autism Be Outgrown
Do Not Allow Behavior Problems To Succeed In Escaping Demands
If you give the child an instruction and the child has a tantrum, ignores you, engages in self-stimulatory behavior, walks away, or refuses to comply with your instruction, you must continue to insist that the instruction is completed. Wait the child out, when he or she is calm, make sure the task is completed. Use a contingency statement to improve the child’s motivation. For example, “I know you do not like making the bed, but when you are finished, it will be time to ride your bike .” This results in a win-win situation, which is what we are always seeking with our children. Allowing a child to escape demands is a very powerful reinforcer for their escape behavior and this will be a very difficult habit to break once it is established.
Getting Dressed: Teaching The Steps Backwards
A good way to teach your child how to get dressed is to break down each task into small steps and teach her the last step first. Once your child can do the last step of the task, teach her the second-last step, then the third-last step and so on.
For example, when putting on shorts, you might help your child face the shorts the right way, hold the waistband and put his legs through the leg holes. Then teach your child the last step pulling up the shorts to his waist by himself.
Once your child can do this, teach her to put her legs through the leg holes and pull her shorts up. You can keep working your way backwards through the steps until your child has mastered them all and can put her shorts on for herself.
A big advantage of this approach is that often the most rewarding thing about a task is getting it finished and your child gets to this reward sooner when he can do the last step first.
If your child is having trouble, it can be tempting to jump in to help. But give your child a chance to work it out for herself, and cheer her on as she tries shell get a real confidence boost when she does it on her own. Step in only when your child really needs your help.
Also Check: Does Nick Eh 30 Have Autism
Why Is Sitting Tolerance Important For Children With Autism
We do not often think about the gross motor skill of sitting in general, let alone its importance for children with autism. For example, most individuals would often sit cross-legged on the ground during preschool or on chairs in primary school. They would sit for varied periods of time and listen to the teachers as they taught the classes. Most of us did what we were instructed to do, that is, to sit quietly and patiently, but we did not actually realize the benefits of sitting tolerance at the time.
When it comes to children with autism, it is of vital importance to teach them how to sit appropriately, to develop this expected behavior in different social settings, and to encourage sitting for an extended period of time. Once the child is able to master this skill at home, this can be generalized to other settings, such as school . The child would be required to have the endurance to sit upright on a chair listening to the teacher instruct during school hours. For the time being, these children may adopt a commandment mindset, that is, he or she must develop sitting tolerance simply because they are told to. However, the training of sitting tolerance has many benefits in our lives, and especially in the lives of these children.
Physiological Benefits
Sociological Benefits
Self-Regulating Benefits