Content Attributes
To be successful in life, everyone needs to be able to socialize be it maintain a job, build a family, create intimate relationships, etc. All these are core values that help you stay happy and they require a level of understanding as well as the interaction between people. However, socializing for individuals with autism can be challenging.
Ways Parents Can Help Teens with Autism
Intellectual, as well as emotional deficits associated with autism, can make it hard for the people to interact. Some teens struggle to focus, some find it hard to communicate while some require extra time to complete the basic activities. However, with learning, training, and developing social skills, individuals with autism can improve daily functioning and get higher enjoyment. Here are some tips for parents that can be helpful
- Continuing Things that Work
As compared to neurotypical children of the same chronological age, the kids and teens with autism are relatively immature. Therefore, it is important to be patient and provide appropriate support. Simplify the routines and schedules as well as streamline the furnishings and possessions. Ensure you set the realistic and modest goals that teens can accomplish in the given time. Written and impersonal communication is a bit easier for them to absorb. List of notes, routines calendars, or charts can be helpful.
- Possible Shifts & Changes
With or without autism, teens tend to become less willing to the advice or word of parents. Therefore, it is essential to hook teens with other trustworthy adults. Some teens with autism are child-like as well as docile, so you need to be prepared to ignore or tolerate the considerable surliness, acting out, or distancing. In case you wish to teen child to try, learn, or do something new, ensure you arrange a suggestion or information to come from an adult who your teen trusts.
- Discipline & Responsibility
As the teens become stronger and taller, it is important to adopt a low-key, consistent, and simple approach. For the matters of respect and safety, ensure you set and enforce bottom line rules. Setting regular routines like bedtime at reasonable hours, familiar foods, vacations, rituals, etc. can help a lot. Do not hesitate to give choices when possible. Engage your teen child in the problem-solving and see what he/she thinks.
Along with these, ensure you pay attention to hygiene. Instill a habit of the daily shower as well as clean clothes. If possible, put the clothes of your teen on the shelf in the bathroom. To make your teen child learn things and grow, you can enroll him/her to autism program for teens. The program would help your child to gain confidence as well as develop the skills that are essential to living independently.