Helping Children with Autism Learn
Over the past two weeks, we have focussed on what autism is and how to recognise its symptoms, but we really want to emphasize that autism is a different way of thinking and comes with its own set of strengths as well as weaknesses.
There are aspects of learning that children with autism will undoubtedly find more difficult – such as communication and social awareness. That said, there are also things that children with autism are better at than others, such as memory tasks and visual search.
So, here are some tips for helping a child with autism learn more comfortably:
How to help children with autism learn? Discover their interests and focus on their strengths.
This seems obvious, but it is so important. Just as all children have different skills and interests, there is no one set of skills that children with autism are best at. Talk to and observe your child to find out what their strengths and weaknesses are.
People with autism tend to focus on very specific activities and interests. If this happens, sharing their interest might encourage them to communicate.
Focus on reinforcing their strengths rather than trying to improve their weaknesses, as it will not only help them excel at something but will also instil confidence in their abilities.
How to help children with autism learn? Follow a schedule (And stick to it!)
A common symptom of autism is a preference for routine. Many people with autism get such reassurance from their routine that even the slightest change can cause extreme anxiety.
In children especially, a seemingly trivial change in routine can result in a meltdown.
An autistic meltdown often appears exactly like a temper tantrum to observers, but children with autism are not being naughty when it happens. They are responding to an overwhelming feeling of emotion, so a calm, empathetic response is necessary.
To avoid meltdowns caused by disruption, stick to a routine as much as possible and explain to your child what is going to happen and what to expect.
How to help children with autism learn? Use visual imagery, but avoid overloading the senses.
With communication being one of the main barriers that children with autism face in learning, using images where possible can be really useful.
Some children with autism might be less sensitive to pain than other children. That is particularly problematic if they don’t realise something has hurt them. Images are great for labelling dangerous objects because they can be understood more easily.
Hand gestures can also help to explain what you are saying. If a child has trouble understanding spoken instructions, emphasizing what you say by pointing and waving might help.
Although visual imagery can be really useful, many children with autism are overly sensitive to certain stimuli. For them, too much sound or light can be overwhelming. Instead of using bright colours and loud noises, use clear, calm imagery and soothing sounds.
Speak calmly and gently and learn the early warning signs that your child is overstimulated. In time, you will be able to work out a routine that better avoids things that cause your child to have a meltdown.
How to help children with autism learn? Give clear explanations.
As well as speaking calmly, it is important to say what you mean simply, because many people with autism tend to take things quite literally. That means idioms such as “we will be here forever” can be distressing for children with autism.
Instead, clearly state what you want a child to do, particularly considering unwritten rules that people without autism might assume everyone knows. Social skills like observing others personal space and boundaries don’t always come naturally to children with autism, so they might need more specific instructions.
Teaching children with autism
Many children with autism can learn very successfully at mainstream schools, but others do better in more specialised environments. Learning styles for children with autism are generally quite singular, with all other styles being very difficult or even impossible.
Take the time to work out how an autistic child learns, if they are a kinaesthetic learner then they may find it extremely difficult to learn by being explained to.
Felicity Thompson