Connecting With An Autistic Child

 

GET TO KNOW YOUR AUTISTIC CHILD

Connecting with an autistic child can feel like an uphill challenge, especially if the child is nonverbal or shows little interest in interacting with others. Even autistic children who are considered high functioning can seem standoffish or unwilling to form an emotional connection. The first step in opening up a relationship with an autistic child is learning about them and embracing who they are. 

• Understand what bothers them. Is the autistic child you’re trying to connect with hypersensitive to touch, sounds, light, tastes, smells, or colors? Any one of these sensory experiences can cause them to turn away from your efforts to form a close bond. It can even result in a meltdown. If you’re going to have a meaningful connection, you will have to create a safe space for them to express themselves. And that means enjoying time with them in an environment that doesn’t trigger an outburst or cause them to shut down. 

• Communicate clearly and simply. Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often have difficulty with nuance. They don’t relate well to flowery language, overuse of adjectives and metaphors, or anything other than plain speaking. Keep your sentences short and make your point quickly and efficiently. When talking to an autistic child, brevity wins the day. 

  HOW TO SHOW LOVE TO AN AUTISTIC CHILD

  Autistic kids crave love and positive affirmation just like any other child. Some ways you can express your love include:

  • Adjust how you communicate your feelings of love. If your autistic child doesn’t respond to spoken words of affirmation, share your feelings through another means. Photos, videos, and short written phrases of affirmation may be a better way to communicate how special your child is to you. 

  • Spend quality time with them. Autistic kids are constantly confronted with directives and expectations. To show your love, share your time. Spending quality time with your child can be as simple as sitting with them in some kind of parallel play or imitating their actions. Just being there with no rules or expectations is a gift an autistic child will gladly receive. 

    
    

    As a mother find ways to connect to kids on the Autism Spectrum.

    Helping your Child Cope. Autism and Emotions:

    Ideas for Communicating with your Autistic Child.

    Helping Children With Autism Connect With Emotions.

    Respect Your Child’s Need for Daily Structure

    When they know what’s coming, anxiety decreases, making communication easier.