Need Some Advice Autistic Child

[Lorna]

Hello,

Need some advice on having an Autistic child in the daycare. Its just for the summer to fill a space. Just need some advice on what works. If anything works.

Thanks in advance

[e.j.]

So much depends on the child. Can you describe him and how/to what degree he's affected by Autism. What worked for my son who Asperger's may not work well for a child with more severe Autism.

[Lorna]

Well mom says he isn't affected by sounds smells. She called him hypo. He doesn't speak. But lots of sounds. Won't eat anything I have given him. Doesn't nap unless he passes out in the afternoon. But no planned nap. He is 3. Not potty trained. He does seem to listen once I say things over and over and over. Seems to need a toy in his hands at all time. Throws toys. Not out of frustration. Just kinda chucks them. I am kinda wondering if this has been made worst from everyone giving him exactly what he wants all the time. I do see only after a few days that he seems to be starting to follow our routine. But I really have to always be watching him. I am nervous leaving him with the other kids.

[spedmommy4]

Well mom says he isn't affected by sounds smells. She called him hypo. He doesn't speak. But lots of sounds. Won't eat anything I have given him. Doesn't nap unless he passes out in the afternoon. But no planned nap. He is 3. Not potty trained. He does seem to listen once I say things over and over and over. Seems to need a toy in his hands at all time. Throws toys. Not out of frustration. Just kinda chucks them. I am kinda wondering if this has been made worst from everyone giving him exactly what he wants all the time. I do see only after a few days that he seems to be starting to follow our routine. But I really have to always be watching him. I am nervous leaving him with the other kids.

To handle mealtimes, you have two options: 1) Parents provide foods that he will eat, or 2.) continue offering your regular meals. With repeat exposure to the same foods, he may opt to try some. Honestly though, it sounds like you won't have him that long term, so it may be easier to have the parents provide food.

To make communication a little easier, you can try: 1) using short, simple sentences. Your sentences should be no more than 2-3 words. (Short and sweet, but still grammatically correct) 2) Placing a slight emphasis on the important word in the sentence (eg: let's go OUTSIDE) 3) talk in context. If you want him to hand you the cup, make sure the cup is nearby and you can gesture to it.


To reduce random throwing, try giving him an alternative way to meet the "need" to throw. He can toss toys in a bin at clean up. A foam ball in a basket. Things like this.

Hope this helps!

[e.j.]

To handle mealtimes, you have two options: 1) Parents provide foods that he will eat, or 2.) continue offering your regular meals. With repeat exposure to the same foods, he may opt to try some. Honestly though, it sounds like you won't have him that long term, so it may be easier to have the parents provide food.

To make communication a little easier, you can try: 1) using short, simple sentences. Your sentences should be no more than 2-3 words. (Short and sweet, but still grammatically correct) 2) Placing a slight emphasis on the important word in the sentence (eg: let's go OUTSIDE) 3) talk in context. If you want him to hand you the cup, make sure the cup is nearby and you can gesture to it.


To reduce random throwing, try giving him an alternative way to meet the "need" to throw. He can toss toys in a bin at clean up. A foam ball in a basket. Things like this.

Hope this helps!

Ask his parents how they deal with communication issues, potty training, nap time, toys being thrown ... at home. If possible, try to do things the same way. Maintaining some consistency between your home and his may help because the child knows what to expect. For the same reason, sticking to a schedule/routine is helpful. Give him a heads-up before any kind of transition or change. Consistency, routine and preparation helped my son a lot when he was younger. He was also somewhat concrete in his thinking so I tried to look at things through his eyes to gain some understanding of why he acted the way he did or said the things he said. I think it helped him to feel understood which helped avoid frustration and many meltdowns.

I found this list once and it also helped me stay calm and put things in perspective when we both needed it the most:

https://www.autismspeaks.org/family-services/tool-kits/100-day-kit/ten-things-every-child-autism-wishes-you-knew

[Pestle]

Autistic kids can't communicate the way everyone else does, so while I can't speak to this particular child, I wouldn't be quick to blame the parents for the throwing. Acting out may be the only tool he has in his communication kit.

My mother's on the Autism spectrum and I have a cousin who's low-functioning Autistic. They experience sensory overload and will hum and rock back and forth to tune out the cacophony of sensory experiences. Clutching a toy could be a sensory thing.

The critical thing for my cousin has been to keep him on a regular schedule. The smallest deviation is very difficult for him.