Parenting a child with autism can be both rewarding and stressful. Below are some simple interventions that parents (and teachers) can use throughout the day.
1. Support Pivotal Response Treatment
Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT), uses natural learning opportunities to target and modify key behaviors. Parents can learn all the basics of PRT and support this treatment for their children with The PRT Pocket Guide: Pivotal Response Treatment for Autism Spectrum Disorders, a quick and practical guidebook by PRT developers Robert and Lynn Koegel. Packed with helpful tips and examples, this concise guide reveals the secrets to motivating children with natural reinforcers, reducing disruptive behavior, encouraging communication and social initiations, helping families weave interventions into daily routines, and more.
2. Increase attention
The ability to focus on a specific task to completion is a foundational skill for life. Parents can help increase their child’s attention span and ability to follow directions with the software program, HearBuilder Following Directions Home Edition, which covers 40 basic concepts that help children ages 4-9 (grades PreK-3) improve their ability to listen to and follow directions while they play interactive games.
3. Sustain engagement
As many children on the spectrum tend to focus on their own individual interests before those of others around them, it is imperative that parents and family members create positive memories and engage in activities that will cause their child to develop a vested interest in the world around them. Games can be a great way to engage a child, but oftentimes can be confusing and overwhelming for children with autism. With MagneTalk Turns and Topics, a magnetic board game for children with autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs), children are able to have fun, increase concentration and communication skills, and learn basic game playing.
4. Use interests as a learning tool
Many children with autism develop an acute curiosity in a specific topic, interest or subject area. One common fascination in children with autism is trains. Author and inclusion expert Paula Kluth has created a book that teaches vocabulary by using a child’s fascination with trains in A is for "All Aboard!", which includes steps for using the book as a teaching tool as the child’s skills progress.
5. Foster social skills
Developing key social skills and the ability to relate to others requires age appropriate and contextual dialogue. Often children with ASDs have a difficult time developing these skills and lacking these skills prevents them from interacting with peers and the world around them. With the Practicing Pragmatics App, children learn age-appropriate behaviors and responses through social skills questions about politeness, solving problems, feelings, giving information, requesting information, telephone skills and staying on topic.
