Daily Tip: Make time for family fun and personal space Parents need to remember that a child with autism is a child that needs to be active and be allowed to play just as much his or her non-autistic peers and that therapy does not count as play time. Autism experts recommend the following approaches to play: • Schedule playtime when your child is most alert and awake. Figure out ways to have fun together by thinking about the things that make your child smile, laugh, and come out of their shell. Your child is likely to enjoy these activities most if they don’t seem therapeutic or educational. • Consider a child’s interests and customize physical fitness activities with that in mind. Menear explains that many children with autism particularly like repetitive activities like biking, jogging and swimming. “If someone is very interested in numbers, there could be a math component to performing or analyzing the activity,” Menear said. “Or the person could be motivated by trying to match someone else’s score or time.” She also recommends involving the entire family in play activities. “For young children, it is very beneficial to match interests to physical activities in which the family can engage together, so there is the win-win of a family activity that benefits all in terms of health,” says Menear. But just as there is a time for play with others there is also a time when an autistic child needs time to him or herself. Autism experts from HelpGuide.org recommend that creating a personal space for some quiet time can be beneficial to an autistic child―and the overworked parent. • Carve out a private space in your home where your child can relax, feel secure, and be safe. This will involve organizing and setting boundaries in ways your child can understand. • Use visual cues such as colored tape to mark areas that are off limits, labeling items in the house with pictures. • Safety-proof the house―particularly if your child is prone to tantrums or other self-injurious behaviors.
Posted on: Sat, 13 Jul 2013 13:00:00 +0000
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