Understanding and Supporting Your ASD Child: Tips for Parents

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurological and developmental disorder. Affecting around 1 in 36 kids, ASD is characterized by social communication and interaction differences and patterns of restricted, repetitive behaviors, activities, or interests. It's essential to understand and support children with ASD, who often experience high anxiety levels regarding change, sensory sensitivities, and other symptoms. Kids with ASD may respond best to Autism-specific parenting strategies and often require advocacy from their parents. What should parents know about supporting a child with suspected or confirmed ASD?

First, let's talk about understanding ASD so that parents who suspect ASD can look out for the signs. Then, we'll go over tips for supporting your child with ASD, including establishing routines and structure, communication strategies, managing sensory sensitivities, and building social skills. Finally, we'll discuss working with professionals, like teachers and providers, and how to navigate your own self-care with an autistic child.

Understanding ASD

Autism Spectrum Disorder is a lifelong neurodevelopmental disorder that you are born with. Symptoms begin in early childhood and can change as a person ages. ASD can look vastly different from person to person. Common characteristics and behaviors seen in kids with ASD include but aren't limited to:

• Repetitive movements and behaviors, such as hand flapping, spinning, pacing, rubbing objects, flicking fingers, twirling hair, chewing on items, clothes, or hair, covering and uncovering ears, pushing hands on their eyes, repeating words or phrases, or a fixation on specific sensory stimuli (e.g., watching water, watching lights).
• Hyper or hypo-sensitivity to sensory stimuli. For example, intense reactions to certain sounds (e.g., certain songs, loud noises, or specific noises, like a buzzing light or the vacuum), scents, tastes, textures (e.g., fabrics or clothing tags), an abnormally high pain tolerance, or reduced reactions to hot, cold, or bodily needs.
• Special interests, which refer to abnormally intense interests in any topic. For example, cars, movies, book series, and TV shows, animals, trains, music, or something else.
• Limited speech and language development or atypical speech for their age (e.g., talking like a "little professor," using overly formal language, or abnormal tone of voice).
• Limited facial expressions or exaggerated emotional and facial expressions.
• Talking excessively about a specific topic, such as special interests.
• Difficulty using or following joint attention (like pointing at objects).
• Trouble with change or transitions.
• Reduced eye contact.
• Lower interest in other children.
• Rigid routines.

Some kids with ASD will show more skills around the people they are closest to, like a parent. For example, social interaction skills. Other common challenges kids with ASD may experience include but aren't limited to differences in fine or gross motor skills, trouble with executive functioning, and mental health concerns like anxiety, perfectionism, or behavioral concerns.

Tips for Supporting Your ASD Child

Although it can come with challenges, neurodiversity also often comes with unique strengths. With the diverse ways Autism can present in mind, let's talk about how you can support a child with ASD. Feel free to adjust these tips to suit your child's presentation and skillset. 

Establishing routines and structure

Routines and structure are vital for all children, but with ASD, kids can need more support with change and transitions. It is integral that they know what to expect day-to-day, and they may have a harder time adjusting to things like starting school. Here are some tips for creating a consistent daily routine in kids with ASD:

• Create a visual schedule or chore chart for your child. 
• Explain routines and upcoming activities to your child in-depth, including "who, what, when, and where" details.
• If the child struggles with transitions, add extra time in between tasks.
• Set aside time for sensory breaks and special interests or alone time (for kids who need it).
• Provide reminders as an event or transition (e.g., transitioning from playing a game to eating dinner) approaches. 

You can also use apps like Joon to aid transitions and help kids complete daily tasks like chores. Sometimes, asking a child with ASD to transition from playing a game to cleaning their room is not easy. Joon is special because it helps kids do just that, requiring them to finish tasks to continue the game. 

Using Joon

Using Joon is an excellent way to support executive function, task completion, and routine in children. Geared toward kids with ADHD, Autism, and related disorders, Joon was designed with neurodiversity in mind. Here's how it works:

Parents sign up first with the Joon Parent App and make a task list for their child. You can choose from 500+ pre-loaded tasks or add your own. When kids finish tasks, they get rewards that allow them to continue playing the game and care for a virtual pet called a Doter. New, novel rewards, mini-games, and other features are added frequently so that kids keep wanting to play and keep finishing tasks like homework, brushing their teeth, or chores. 

90% of kids who use Joon finish all of their tasks. Even better, many parents say it has improved their parent-child relationship. 

Click here to try Joon for free. 

Communication strategies

Kids with ASD often take things literally and struggle with social cues. For this reason and others, ASD kids may need help using verbal and non-verbal communication skills themselves, and they may need help with learning to understand other people. Here are some ways you can help:

• Be direct. Use clear, direct language when providing instructions.
• Double-check. Confirm that your child understands what you say and that you understand what your child says or conveys through gestures by asking. 
• Use social stories. Social stories can aid social interaction and communication skills. You can find social stories for Autism online, at the library, or at the bookstore.
• Get support from professionals. For example, if your child needs help with language development, involve them in speech therapy early.

Visual aids are often recommended for kids with ASD. They can help kids understand emotions, activities, and schedules and can also help them communicate. For example, flashcards with facial expressions can help kids practice interpreting other people's facial expressions and feelings. Tools like feelings wheels or flashcards can help kids identify and convey things like, "I feel sad" or "I feel nervous."

Managing sensory sensitivities

Around 90% of people with Autism Spectrum Disorder have sensory processing differences, whether they're over-sensitive to sensory stimuli, under-sensitive, or both. Common sensory sensitivities in kids with ASD relate to clothing (for example, jeans or sock seams), food, and intense discomfort caused by things like bright lights, loud places, or specific noises.

Parents can help by creating a sensory-friendly environment. For example, you may:

• Accommodate sensory needs. For example, you might adjust the lighting or offer sensory-friendly clothes (some clothing brands design sensory-friendly clothing that is easy for kids to take off and on).
• Provide tools like weighted blankets and noise-canceling headphones.
• Consider making a "calm corner" or designated sensory-friendly space for your child. 

In terms of under-sensitivity, some kids with ASD will need more help detecting and communicating bodily cues like needing to go to the bathroom, drink water, or eat. This can pair with teaching communication skills in some instances.

Building social skills

Although all kids with ASD experience difficulties in social communication and interaction, what that looks like can vary tremendously. Some children with ASD will have a strong desire to make friends but may need help developing skills for positive social interactions. Others could show very little interest in other kids, particularly in early childhood, and might benefit most from specific modes of social involvement.

Tips for helping ASD children develop social skills and make friends

In addition to reading social stories to teach kids with Autism Spectrum Disorder important social skills, you may:

• Role-play back-and-forth conversation.
• Talk about ways to approach people and make friends.
• Discuss polite ways to navigate specific interactions (e.g., turning down a hug or invitation).

Social skills training (SST) is a common treatment used for kids with ASD. SST can take place with parents at home, in an office setting, or at school.

Encouraging social interactions and participation in social activities

Depending on your child's unique needs and symptom presentation, the best way to support social interactions with peers can differ. A child with ASD may benefit from:

• Friendship groups or meetups for kids with ASD.
• Social activities that relate to an interest they have, such as an art class for kids who enjoy art.
• If your child is quiet or shy, play dates with children who are similarly quiet or shy.

Playdates with a specific start and end time (e.g., 3-5 PM) can be ideal for predictability. Younger and more introverted children may need to start with short playdates or activities.

Working with Professionals to Support Your ASD Child

Professionals like educators and therapists can be essential parts of your child's support system. Parental inclusion in therapy and education is critical. Stay connected with the professionals your child works with so that you know what they're learning at school or in therapy. You may also:

• Educate school teachers on ASD and your child's unique presentation, as well as how it affects their needs.
• Advocate for your child's needs at school. For example, you may need to advocate for classroom accommodations or an Individualized Education Plan (IEP).
• Use technology. Apps can help parents connect with providers and teachers in some cases.
• Listen to your child's perspective. There might be times when a professional isn't the right fit for your child–listen to what they have to say, and use your best judgment.

Early intervention services like occupational therapy, SST, and speech therapy can benefit children with ASD, leading to outcomes like better quality of life, motor skills, and social skills. Collaborate with providers involved in the diagnostic process and discuss what kind of support may help your child the most. 

Self-Care for Parents

Self-care is crucial for parents of ASD children. Many autistic children need more time with their parents. Some might be more attached to their parents and spend more time at home than other kids. 

Generally speaking, it's necessary to pick your battles. With ASD, some things, like potentially harmful stimming behaviors (e.g., head-banging), require extensive re-direction. Other things, like a preference for certain foods, can be accommodated most of the time. 

It's vital to embrace your child for who they are and their strengths while remembering to take care of yourself and your own needs. In parenting a child with ASD, you may benefit from:

• Respite care from babysitters who are versed in ASD, family members, or other parents. 
• Stress relief techniques, like breathing exercises and self-talk, for difficult moments.
• Getting involved in your local Autism community.
• Autism parent support groups.

Taking care of your mental health by working with a therapist, having other people to talk to, or taking time to nurture your needs and interests matters. As your child gets older, their needs may change. One of the most important things you can do is connect with other people, like other parents of kids with ASD, who can understand, offer advice, or may ask for guidance themselves. 

Conclusion

Kids with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) can have many strengths, such as a unique perspective on the world or a wealth of knowledge regarding their special interests. While ASD is a very common neurological and developmental disorder, it can present in many different ways. Understanding your child's unique presentation and embracing who they are matters.

Early intervention services like social skills training, speech therapy, and occupational therapy are connected to positive outcomes in kids with ASD. Some kids and teens will also need mental health support as they age due to common co-occurring concerns like anxiety. Tools like Joon can help kids with Autism build and maintain healthy routines. 

The accommodations and therapies for a child can vary based on symptom presentation. You know your child best. As a parent, you're your child's #1 advocate and supporter. It is important that you take care of yourself and your mental health while caring for your child.