Autism spectrum disorder affects about one out of every 110 children in the United States, the Autism Society says, citing a 2009 report by the U.S. Centers For Disease Control and Prevention. As of 2011, it remains something of a mystery condition, although researchers think genetic and environmental factors are the most likely causes. Autistic children are easily overstimulated by lights, noise, touch, a break in routine and certain foods. As a result, calming down children with autism is a huge challenge for parents and caregivers.
Step 1
Develop a specific daily routine and stick with it. Children with autism need and want routine, and likely will be calmer in a well-structured environment.
Step 2
Change the environment rather than the child. If there are factors in the child's environment that are disturbing him, make sure they are removed or replaced by something that the child finds reassuring. For example, many kids with autism are bothered by florescent lights, so if your house or special ed classroom has such a light source, replace it.
Step 3
Expose your child to a pet or other animals. Many children with autism are soothed by contact with pets and animals. A study reported in the "Western Journal of Nursing Research" exposed kids with autism spectrum disorder to a ball, a stuffed dog or a real therapy dog. Those who played with the real dog exhibited better moods and showed more awareness of their surroundings. Other programs for children with autism and other disabilities range from swimming with dolphins to horseback riding.
Step 4
Use yoga poses and breathing exercises. A number of schools have yoga programs for autistic students. Yoga programs around the country find that kids are soothed by the routine of the class, the fun of positions such as "downward dog" and the opportunity to get in touch with their bodies by breathing tranquilly and sitting quietly without feeling they are being punished for misbehavior.
Step 5
Play music. Although sound disturbs some children with autism, it can prove soothing for others. In general, music is calming for people of any age, including newborns. So try classical or folk music at low volume to see if your child or the child in your care responds favorably.
Step 6
Wrap the child in a Hug Blanket. Invented by Temple Grandin, famed expert on animal behavior who discovered that children with autism often respond to deep-touch pressure. Grandin, who has Asperger's syndrome, theorizes that the firmness of the blanket on the body may calm and desensitize kids with autism who are overly sensitive to touch.
Tips and Warnings
- Changes in routines and strange environments can be especially difficult for some autistic children to navigate.
Things You'll Need
- Pets or friendly animals
- Hug blanket
References
- Autism Today: 7 Essential Steps for Calming Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
- "Brownsville Herald"; "Pets: Powerful Therapy in Calming Children with Autism"; Pamela G. Downing; December 2009
- Emax Health: "Yoga Therapy for Children with Autism Found Helpful"; Denise Reynolds; June 2001
- "Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychpharmacology"; "Calming Effects of Deep Touch Pressure"; Temple Grandin; Spring 1992
- "Western Journal of Nursing Research"; "Animal Assisted Therapy for Children with Pervasive Developmental Disorders"; F. Martin and J. Farnum; October 2002
- Autism Society: About Autism
