It may seem a daunting prospect if you have an autistic child, but for some, a daycare facility can be a great option. Many children with autism thrive on routine, which is usually customary in daycare, and it can be a great preparation for the transition to school.
Autistic children are often strong in areas like visual, rule-based and interest-based thinking. A developmental assessment or an IQ test can identify autistic children's thinking and learning strengths. You can develop autistic children's skills by working with their strengths.
Sometimes, autistic children may even not like to be held, hugged, or touched by anyone and may be fussy or reactive when forced to do so.
Some families with children on the autism spectrum send their children to typical preschools with (or without) one-on-one support. Depending on the child, the preschool, and the type of 1:1 support available to the family through public or private sources, this can work out very well.
Change in severity of autism symptoms and optimal outcome
One key finding was that children's symptom severity can change with age. In fact, children can improve and get better. "We found that nearly 30% of young children have less severe autism symptoms at age 6 than they did at age 3.
Autistic children value play with their peers and many are able to play with each other. However, they may communicate more visually and with their hands, rather than in the more verbal way of other children. They may need different facilitation strategies and more support than their neurotypical peers.
Lack of Imitation Skills
A child with autism may not even notice that others are playing with blocks at all. They are very unlikely to observe others' behavior and imitate that behavior.
Time outdoors is good for all children, but it brings especially important benefits for children on the autism spectrum. Outdoor play benefits attention, coordination, mood, and more in kids. Getting outside is also good for sleep, something many children with autism struggle with.
Autism characteristics can change significantly from ages 3 to 11.
The study brings hope to those parents who worry that children who are not talking by age 4 or 5 are unlikely to develop speech at all. Some children with ASD develop meaningful language after age 5. "There is a burst of kids in the 6- to 7- age range who do get language," Dr. Wodka said.
Autism doesn't get worse with age, but certain symptoms can become more pronounced and problematic as the child grows older and is more challenged.
Some children with autism may start talking at 12-16 months. Most don't start talking until later. Some will start talking between the ages of 2-3 years. Other children talk even later, and some children never learn to talk.
There are various educational opportunities for students with autism: a general education classroom, a resource classroom, a special education classroom, or an autism-only setting. Some autistic students thrive in an inclusive class, while others are better in segregated situations. It all depends on the child.
High-functioning autism (HFA) is part of the autism spectrum disorder (ASD), children with HFA often struggle with reading body language and other non-verbal forms of communication such as facial expressions but have fully developed verbal language and no learning or other disability.
Do not force a hug on the child or hold them down. This is incredibly distressing, especially if the child is already feeling overwhelmed. The child may panic and lash out at you. Going outside, retreating to their calming down corner, or going to their room are all good ways to help an autistic child to calm down.
Children with an ASD are not vigilant and do not look up to the caregiver for social referencing. They may not cling to the caregiver, although go up to them for succor. However, some cling to the caregiver because of extreme anxiety.
While autism cannot entirely go away, it has been shown that some children show dramatic improvement due to early therapeutic intervention. Some studies show that between 3% and 25% of children diagnosed with autism were able to outgrow their diagnoses.
Having an extraordinarily good memory (being able to remember facts for a long period of time). Being precise and detail orientated. Exceptional honesty and reliability. Being dependable in regards to schedules and routines.
Give your child space, don't touch them, and keep other people away. Turn down lights and keep things quiet, or give your child noise-cancelling headphones. Let one person speak to your child, but don't say too much. Stay calm and wait.
In severe cases, an autistic child may never learn to speak or make eye contact. But many children with autism and other autism spectrum disorders are able to live relatively normal lives.
Encourage play and social interaction.
Also try playful activities that promote social interaction. Examples include singing, reciting nursery rhymes and gentle roughhousing. During your interactions, position yourself in front of your child and close to eye level – so it's easier for your child to see and hear you.
Hobbies such as collecting stamps, playing cards or board games, drawing and photography can also provide opportunities for enjoyment, as well as increased self-confidence and motivation individuals on the spectrum.
Some children with autism smile to show they're happy but don't share their enjoyment. Others show little facial expression or have flat affect and rarely smile so you may not know when they're happy.