ARTICLE BY: Parents from House Of Troy & Our Autism Journey
If you have a child with autism, it is important to get the correct support. The day-to-day care of children with autism can be stressful and making sure your child gets the right support they require can also pose a challenge and depending on the support services that are available to you as a parent in your area can make it even more challenging.
In the book My Child Has Autism: What Parents Need to Know, by Dr. Clarissa Willis states that children with autism are often described by parents and teachers “…as being like pieces of Swiss cheese – there are gaps or holes in what they learn, how they learn it, and how they respond to their world.”
As parents it is our responsibility to develop an understanding of those “gaps or holes” children with autism have and, to come up with strategies that address how and what children learn as well as how they respond to the world around them.
There are many things you can do to help a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) overcome their challenges.
The following parenting tips could help and guide you in the long-term when living with a child on the Autism Spectrum:
1. Learn about autism:
The more you know about autism spectrum disorder, the better equipped you’ll be to make informed, educated decisions for you and your child.
Educate yourself about the different therapy & treatment options. Ask questions even if the answer is obvious or not. Remember, if you don’t know the answer it doesn’t make you stupid or ignorant, it just means you haven’t been informed. Fear of sounding stupid or ignorant holds many people back from understanding something and by asking questions, however simple, you are probably doing what ninety percent of others don’t do for fear of this fact. Like in the book DUNE by Frank Herbert, the main character Paul Atreides speaks to his inner self,
“I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.
Only I will remain.”
Participate in all treatment decisions and be involved as a parent because therapy doesn’t stop when you leave the therapists room, you as a parent will play the biggest role. Apply what you learn from your therapist at home, it makes a big difference.
2. Educate yourself so you know more that you ever thought you would:
Learn all about this “autism condition” as much as you can. Many doctors don’t specialise in Autism / ASD / Autism Spectrum Disorder and it’s just as new to them as to as you as a parent.
Read about children with autism, high-functioning and low functioning autism, signs & behaviours associated to autism, sensory processing disorder, nutrition and autism, gut and autism, there are many different avenues to explore.
Learn and observe from your child and find solutions as a parent that works for your family. Remember, not one child on the spectrum is the same, but they share some of the same colours of the rainbow.
Stay up to date on current research findings, and make sure you are looking at reputable sources of information.
3. Become an expert on your child:
If you understand what affects your child, you will be better at troubleshooting meltdowns and preventing or modifying situations that cause difficulties or outbursts. Figure out what triggers your child’s challenging or disruptive behaviours and what elicits a positive response. What does your child find stressful or frightening? Calming? Uncomfortable? Enjoyable?
Once you have a better understanding of what your child requires your response to your child will be easier. This is one of the most difficult parts as some parents work and untrained care givers don’t always pay attention to these moments. They would classify such moments as being naughty or having a tantrum because the child didn’t get his way.
Please try and understand your child’s way of communication, especially if they are non-verbal where body language plays a big part in communicating.
4. Accept your child, quirks and all:
Feeling unconditionally loved and accepted will help your child more than anything else. Rather than focusing on how your child is different from other children and what he or she is “missing,” rather practice acceptance and love for autism.
Loving someone with Autism is special and unique. Enjoy your kid’s special quirks, silly noises and tippy toes, celebrate the small successes, and stop comparing your child to others.
Every child on the Autism spectrum is unique, that’s most likely why they call it a “rainbow” condition.
5. Choose a Healthy Diet and Supporting Supplements:
For children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, a nutritious, balanced eating plan with the correct nutrients can make a world of difference in their ability to learn, how they manage their emotions and how they process information. Diet alone is not enough – kids with Autism need more than the minimum daily requirements.
Supplementing their diet with Nutritional Supplements is of critically important in helping your child achieve optimal wellness.
6. Build a support system that has an understanding of Autism:
Look for local groups and parent network organizations for families of children with autism in your community. Ask your physician or child developmental specialist for referrals. You can join an online chat groups for parents of children with autism. There are many online support groups on social media. Find one that you feel comfortable with and can learn from.
Parents often share valuable information on groups and meetings that offer different viewpoints where nuggets of wisdom can be garnered and shapped to fit your own specific needs or requirements. It’s not fix-it in any way but, it does allow us to find another option or alternative approach to a situation that we may not have direct answer or resource to and is definitely worth investing some time into, if only just to communicate with individuals sharing a somewhat similar situaton in their life as you.
Click Here to Find More Local Resources in the Lowveld!
8. Make time for yourself, with your partner and/or friends:
As parents with special needs children, we always try to make sure our kids are sorted, but most of all we forget about ourselves. You are likely to have ongoing worries about your child’s prognosis and long-term well-being. For all these reasons, you need to take care of yourself, as well as your child.
If you are fortunate to have that “someone special” and a good support structure in place, try to schedule regular dates or outings with your partner, just the two of you. Perhaps it’s some time with close friends that really understand you need a break from the twenty-four-seven carer and allow yourself to release some of the tensions
Do your best to keep up with the activities you enjoy, something that helps you to relax and unwind at the same time.
Whichever the scenario, without you there is no them. You are allowed to have “down time”.
CLICK HERE > Here are some amazing home play activities and tools for young sensory seekers.
CLICK HERE > You can also view our range of Montessori Learning toys that is perfect for home
“Never help a child with a task at which he feels he can succeed”. – Maria Montessori
9. Get help when its needed:
Having a child with autism can be very difficult when it comes to you and your partners relationship. Seek help if you or your partner are feeling persistently overwhelmed or depressed, or the stress of caring for a child with autism is affecting your relationship.
Remember, your child needs both of you, and it takes team work to keep a healthy balance!
Your health care provider can help you find a qualified individual, couple or family therapist that could be of guidance.
10. Don’t give up. Never! Just Don’t
It’s impossible to predict the course of autism spectrum disorder or the journey that might unfold for your family.
Don’t jump to conclusions about what life is going to be like for your child. You will only set yourself up for dissappointment. Take each day as it comes. Be aware that at any given moment Everything can change. One minute life is bliss and the next the gates of Pandoras Box have been thrown wide open and the sky darkens, the walls become pressing along with the sounds of chaos and confusion, metaphorically, all hell has just broken loose. This is when you hear the words in your head and heart. Stand fast soldier. The storm shall pass.
Like every child, children with autism have an entire lifetime to grow and develop their abilities.
#autismsupport
#autismchallenges
Leave a comment