Strategies for Working With Autistic Children

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, 1 in 110 children suffer from autism.



Due to unexpected behavior, autistic children can be very difficult to deal with at times. Adults who care for autistic children are often afraid to discipline them and spend a lot of time appeasing them instead.



This can be the wrong approach as children with autism should be made aware when they are doing something wrong.

Consistency

• Inquire into the techniques used by therapists and teachers to deal with an autistic child. Autistic children find it difficult to adapt, therefore creating an atmosphere of consistency is a good learning technique.

Reward Good Behaviour

• Positive reinforcement is always helpful for autistic children, keep an eye out for good behaviour and reward or praise them for it. It is a good idea to look for ways to reward them, like giving the child a sticker, or letting them play with one of their favourite toys.

Fun Time

• Spend time enjoying one another's company. Autistic children need to feel loved and appreciated just as much as a child without autism, so have fun days out and do activities that detract from the issue of autism.