According to the website Autism Speaks, 1 in 110 children are born with some type of autism spectrum disorder. For boys, 1 in 7 are born with autism. Early signs of autism include communicative disorders, speech disorders, repetitive behaviors, and physical and mental impairments. There is no known cause for autism, but luckily there are some ways to help children with autism at home.
Many parents feel powerless and unable to help a child with autism at home, but with a little love and patience, it can be done. The first step is to seek professional advice on what strategies may work. Next, look for resources and teaching tools that will foster learning. It’s also important to set time aside each day to work with the autistic child, and to be mindful of teachable moments throughout the day. Finally, remember to love and enjoy the child unconditionally.
Interactive Games Build Communication Skills
Children with autism sometimes struggle with making eye contact with family members. The trick is to engage the child in play or an activity that requires the child to make eye contact and then express a desire. If the child is unable to speak his desire, then caregivers need to teach the child ways of communicating his desires nonverbally.
Interactive games help all toddlers, but they are especially helpful for children with autism. A few strategies include:
- Picture Files – Create a picture file of food and toy items such as favorite juices, milk, books, toys, and family members. Teach the child to point to items on his picture file. Use clip art and pictures from online grocery store sights to build the picture file.
- Sign Language – Teach non-verbal children how to use appropriate signs when requesting simple things. Try downloading sign language applications for smart phones, learning pads, or iPods or purchasing sign language videos online.
- Traditional Games – Peek-a-boo, playing catch, patty-cake, high-fives, clapping games, rhymes, and children’s read-aloud books are all fantastic ways of engaging an autistic child in interactive play.
Teaching Tools for Developing Fine Motor Skills
Fine motor skills involve the toddler using hand-eye coordination, cognitive thinking skills, and hands and fingers to manipulate objects. Sometimes toddlers with autism struggle with manipulating small objects with their hands. Children learn through play, so it’s important to introduce games that will help to stimulate the child’s imagination. These games will be fun for the child, but will also involve the child using his hands, fingers, eyes, and brain all at the same time.
An easy way to get started is to sit with a toddler in a lap position, and practice playing with toys that develop fine motor skills. Start new games and activities with mom or dad placing their hand over baby’s hand and then guiding baby’s hand to the objects where they go with respect to the game. Taking turns, modeling, and then finally allowing for independent practice are also great strategies. Remember to initiate eye contact by waiting for the child to ask for more, or by showing the sign for more. Eventually the toddler will be able to manipulate the games on his own.
These teaching tools will help toddler develop fine motor skills:
- Beads – Wooden beads or blocks that allow toddlers to thread a thick string or shoestring through a hole.
- Peg Boards – Wooden peg boards where a child places a peg into a hole.
- Stackable Rings – Rings that stagger in size and are stacked on a base in order of size.
- Large Crayons – Teaches child how to hold a writing utensil. Practice with horizontal and vertical strokes, then strokes in circular motion.
- Puzzles – ABC, number, shape and color puzzles are great. Toddlers will also need to identify body parts and pieces of clothing. A puzzle with people or animals with interchangeable faces and clothing is ideal for teaching these skills.
Technology Teaching Tools for Autistic Children
Teaching tools such as a smart tablet and iPod touch can be used to stimulate interaction between parent and child. Kids as young as two years old can begin learning with a smart device with careful parental monitoring and interaction. New downloadable applications teach the following skills:
- Colors
- Alphabet
- Animal sounds
- Songs
- Sign language
- Hand-eye coordination
- Thinking skills and more
Learning Tools at the Finger Tips
Many online resources are available that offer suggestions in teaching autistic children at home. However, the most convenient tools are baby's finger tips which can be used for pointing, using sign language, and for improving fine motor skills.
Parent and child interaction will improve with interactive games such a peg boards, stringing beads, puzzles, stackable rings, and crayons. As toddlers grow, parents will be able to adapt and change their strategies to fit the needs of the autistic child. With love and support, parents and children will learn to communicate and interact in ways that makes sense to them. These teaching and learning tools will help strengthen parent-child bonds as the autistic child learns to communicate within his home environment.
References
Kern County Superintendent of Schools Infant Development Program
Donna Kehl - Educator, researcher, culinary artist and wine enthusiast writing about food, wine, travel, family, and educational issues.
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