Autism is a developmental disability that impairs social and communication skills, according to the Marbles Study, an autism research organization at the University of California. Many individuals with a condition on the autism spectrum--which represents a wide range of related disorders--also exhibit repetitive behaviors and heightened sensitivity to certain sensations. The exact cause of autism is unknown, and the disorder cannot be cured. However, autism can be managed, and parents can help autistic children through a number of developmental activities.
Stimulus Activities
Autism manifests differently in different people. Commonly, autistic individuals exhibit heightened interest in certain stimuli and an aversion for other stimuli. For example, an autistic person may be very sensitive to touch, avoiding physical interaction at all costs, while that same individual may enjoy visual stimuli. When developing activities for your autistic child, you want to emphasize positive stimuli. In the earlier example, use visual stimuli to encourage positive activities. Use pictures or drawings to remind the child to brush his teeth or make his bed. These visual reinforcement activities will help develop important life skills, according to the book "Effective Programs for Treating Autism Spectrum Disorders."
Applied Behavior Activities
Applied behavior activities are real-life occurrences where the autistic person applies her skills. To encourage applied behavior during daily activities, you must support that activity with a reward. In some cases, the reward is as simple as verbal praise, according to the Scott Center for Autism Treatment. If your autistic child exhibits positive life skills during daily activities, make sure to acknowledge this verbally or with a physical reward. For example, if the autistic child remembers to look both ways before crossing the street, you must acknowledge this by saying "good job" and smiling. This simple, daily activity will teach important life skills.
Social Interaction Activities
Social skills are often impaired for people with autism. Autistic individuals find it difficult to interact socially, because they find it difficult to read facial cues and tone of voice. Practice communication skills with your child, coaching him on proper social conventions. Social interaction must be actively taught to autistic children; this skill does not develop naturally for autistic individuals. Make a game of social activities to keep things fun. Bring the whole family into the activity, acting out social situations and awarding points or extra playtime for successful social interactions.
Functional Objectives
Focus on functional objectives as your child goes through daily activities. According to the Harding Center for Applied Research and Training in Education, functional objectives emphasize valuable skills, whereas nonfunctional objectives include repetitive tasks and obsessive-compulsive tendencies. Shift your child's focus from repetitive tasks to life skills with activities that creatively include both types of objectives. For example, if your autistic child has color-sorting compulsions, incorporate this into daily activities. When shopping, let the child color code the grocery list based on the type of food. This teaches valuable shopping skills while also keeping the activity fun.
Community Activities
Immersion therapy is useful for autistic individuals. While social interaction is often difficult, immersing the child in a large social event can help hone social skills. Find community events that match your child's interest. Encouraging activities at home is great, but at some point you must integrate your child into the broader community. The ability to interact independently and develop friendships is an important consideration when autistic children transition into adulthood, according to the Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence.
References
- University of California, Davis: What is Autism?
- "Effective Programs for Treating Autism Spectrum Disorders"; B. F. Williams & R. L. Williams; 2010
- Scott Center for Autism Treatment: What is Applied Behavior Analysis?
- Harding Center for Applied Research and Training in Education: Autism 101
- Educational Service Center of Central Ohio: Parent's Guide to Autism Spectrum Disorders
