| First of all, being very consistent is a big help for | | | | same thing several different times, it may seem |
| autistic children. Make sure you have a routine | | | | like a new occurrence for a child with autism. |
| that you follow every single day. Autistic children | | | | Hearing the same words can be a help for autistic |
| do not deal well with change. Change throws | | | | children to form a connection in their mind. |
| them off. They become confused and that is | | | | Set up the environment so that the right thing to |
| when they act out. When things are the same | | | | do is also the easiest thing to do. For example, if |
| and familiar, your child is much more comfortable. | | | | you want your child to sit down and eat, make |
| When you are doing new tasks with your child, | | | | sure that the room is set up with a chair slightly |
| like going to the store, explain what you are going | | | | pushed out from the table, inviting them to sit |
| to do and what to expect before you do it. This | | | | down. Have the food placed where it is the |
| will help your child to know what to expect, and | | | | easiest thing to reach, and likewise with the |
| lessen the chance of misbehavior. Also, if you | | | | silverware. Have all distractions put away to |
| have to change your routine, explain how things | | | | where it would be more difficult to get them than |
| will be different and why. | | | | it would be to simply eat. |
| Another big help for autistic children is to be very | | | | Be proactive rather than reactive. Stop |
| positive with them. As a general rule, you should | | | | misbehavior before they have a chance to |
| praise your child 7 times for every 1 time you | | | | happen. Your child will show you warning signs |
| have to correct them. Try to pick out even the | | | | that they always do before they have a behavior. |
| simplest things to praise if you have to. Once you | | | | It can be a great help for autistic children if you |
| start doing this, it will become second nature. | | | | learn to recognize these signs and you can often |
| It is easy to find positive things to praise your | | | | stop a behavior before it happens. |
| child for. It can be as easy as saying, "Good job | | | | If you see your child becoming frustrated, tell |
| putting your shirt on the right way," or "Wow, | | | | them a simple direction, then help them through it. |
| you ate all your cereal." | | | | Praise them once you have helped them |
| You should always use the same wording with an | | | | complete the task. By helping them through it, |
| autistic child. The reason is because children who | | | | you are making sure they will be successful. That |
| experience autism do not effectively learn from | | | | will usually make them feel good and stop the |
| experience. Even though you may have done the | | | | potential misbehavior. |