Category: autism

When a grandparent, parent, teacher, or even a beloved pet dies, children need help coping with grief. Understanding what it means when a loved one dies is tough for any child, but it’s especially confusing and difficult for children with special needs. There are ways to help a child with autism cope with grief that are similar to what you’d do for a neurotypical child. While you may find yourself explaining a child’s reactions to family and friends, the focus should be on helping the child cope with this difficult…

Stimming (or self-stimulatory behaviors) is an essential part of life for many people with autism. It’s a physical or verbal action that helps someone regulate their emotions, relieve stress, and cope with the overwhelming amount of sensory input around them. Common stimming activities include flapping or moving hands and arms, rocking back and forth, spinning, and repetition of words and phrases. However, stimming can also involve more severe behaviors, like banging the head against a wall, hitting, or biting oneself. Stimming is important for autistic people to help them regulate…

Change can be tough for individuals with autism because it means they are no longer able to maintain their old habits and routines. For children with autism, this change can be overwhelming and scary, particularly if they aren’t sure why the change is happening. Road trips are a great way to spend quality time with your family; however, they can be a source of stress for children with autism due to the change in routine and uncomfortable sensory input. Here are four tips for road tripping with a child with…

Hardly anyone enjoys riding on the school bus, but this task is even more of an obstacle for a child on the autism spectrum. Knowing how to help a child with autism take the school bus can give them the confidence to hop on without concerns and provide parents peace of mind while they are gone. Develop a Routine Following the same pattern regularly is one of the greatest strategies to assist a child with autism. To accomplish this, it helps to wake them up at a specific time and…

Aquariums are known for their calming effects on the mind and body. This is due to their vibrant colors, calming sounds, and the enrapturing nature of the tank itself. However, aquariums aren’t just great for neurotypical children; they’re great for neurodivergent children as well, particularly children with Autism. If your child loves fish and aquariums, then you may already be aware of the benefits owning one can have. But for those unaware, this article will review how an aquarium can benefit your child with Autism. Soothes Meltdowns Because aquariums are generally…