Ultimate Autism

Ultimate Autism Webinar on how do avoid the 7 biggest mistakes when a child is diagnosed with autism. And finally, it’s confirmed: your child is diagnosed with Autism.

The first time a parent is told that their child has Autism will be a moment that they never forget. Often, the moment has been preceded by months – or even years – of concern, guilt and even anger as their once happy and outgoing child becomes less communicative, less expressive and often less able to control their emotions. Physical comfort, such as hugs and kisses, that used to soothe your chil

d are no longer welcomed and unusual habits and obsessions become an important part of your child’s life. As a loving parent, you try everything to draw your child back out of the little world they’ve created for themselves, but nothing seems to work. You talk to doctors, nurses, child-care specialists, positive parenting groups – anyone who can help you find the key to your child’s behaviour. But, while it can be a relief to finally discover the reason for your child’s difficulties – and to realize that it’s not your fault – a diagnosis of Autism can feel like a life sentence. Parents of children with Autism experience a wide range of emotions – confusion, resentment, maybe even guilt that they were somehow unable to ‘protect’ their child from this condition. Many parents fear for their child’s future and feel certain that life will never be normal or enjoyable again. It is vital at this difficult time in your child’s life that you put aside your fears and anger so that you can realise this one important truth: you are the key to your child’s future. Children, especially children with Autism, are vulnerable little people and they rely on you, their parents and carers, to protect them and do what’s best for them. And, while you can’t protect your child from Autism, you can give them the tools they so desperately need to help them to live with the condition and realise the potential that’s locked up inside of them. BUT – to be able to help your child, you need to make sure that you’re ready to work with them in the right way. Seven dangerous mistakes – easy to make, impossible to undo

Sandra Arntzen, M.Ed, specialises in helping children with Autism. Using her twenty years of experience, Arntzen has identified seven dangerous mistakes that parents and carers can make when they are faced with a diagnosis of Autism. These mistakes, while easy to make, can halt your child’s progress or even undo the steps they’ve taken so far.

• Failing to accept the diagnosis

One of the most common – and natural – responses that most parents have when they learnt that their child has Autism is to go into a state of denial or shock. Many parents and carers don’t really know much about Autism, and what it means for them and their child, but it’s important to accept the diagnosis, embrace the diagnosis and work on moving forward with that diagnosis. Once you accept and understand that Autism is part of your child’s life – and part of who they are – you can start working with them to unlock the potential that’s trapped inside them.


• Feeling guilty about your child’s condition

While it’s natural for parents and carers to want the best for their child – and to mourn the loss of their life ‘before’ Autism – it’s important not to let this guilt get in the way of responsible, positive parenting. Parents who spend their lives feeling guilty about their child’s Autism – rather than accepting it as a part of who their child is – risk spoiling their child as a way of ‘making up’ for the diagnosis. While parents may feel that their Autistic child needs to be wrapped up in cotton wool and protected from the world, this dangerous tendency can keep children with Autism from progressing and can even undo the steps that they’ve taken towards leading their own lives. Even though your child has Autism, it is important to raise them with structure, discipline, challenges and boundaries. Just like any other child, a child with Autism still needs to be pushed to become independent. Whether it’s doing their own homework, learning to feed and dress themselves or simply communicating their needs to you, your child needs to learn how to grow. Supporting your child appropriately from the earliest possible age is crucial. Today, you can learn more about these, and the other, dangerous mistakes and learn how to avoid them. Using this completely FREE webinar by renowned Autism expert Sandra Arntzen, M.Ed, you can be the positive change in your child’s life. Remember: you are the key to your child’s future. Children with Autism need strong parents and carers who will give them love, support, boundaries and structure. While you might still be feeling shell-shocked by your child’s diagnosis, it’s time to take action. You can start helping your child right now. Register for your FREE webinar training with Sandra Arntzen, M.Ed now and discover the key to unlocking childhood Autism.
[YOUR AFFILIATE LINK]

01/09/2013

"I can't take him to the toy store anymore. He has a tantrum every

time we go. I just want to be able to take my son into a toy store

and make a purchase and walk out.


I just want to keep the peace! I am tired of the stares and the rude comments

people make under their breath....as if I can't hear what they are saying."



==========



Is this a familiar story? If so, please continue to read....



I am going to tell you how you can help keep your child calm and how to

promote self-regulation. I find these to be useful life skills.



I know there are a variety of techniques that are helpful at

different times for different kids.



I am going to talk about the most effective techniques I have used

with my clients: Social Stories, which was created by Carol Grey, is truly one of

the most effective tools you can learn.



Basically, a social story helps children learn what to do and

what to say in different situations.



It is a personalized book and I like to use actual

photos of the children so that the book truly speaks to them on a

more personal level. Pictures are important because they are visual

and many children on the spectrum think in images.



Let's use the scenario of the toy store as an example. If we were

to turn this scenario into a social story, we would tell the child

what is going to be happening.



For example, "Today we are going to the toy store. I like going to

the toy store! I will walk in the store nicely. I can look at the toys.



When mom says it's time to go, I will say, "Ok," and walk nicely

with my mom." The story is written as to what behaviors are

expected using positives. Notice I didn't use any negatives.....

this is very important!



The social stories provide a script for your child to avoid any

misunderstanding. When you are in the situation, you can easily

remind your child of the story so that they can lift the script.



This helps them transition in real life without getting "stuck."

It turns out the little boy in the toy store scenario became upset

when his mom would go to the cashier to pay for the item.



He didn't understand the process of paying for an item. He found his

toy and wanted to go straight home. I helped her write a social

story to provide understanding for him as to what he could do

during that time.



For example, "After I find the toy I would like to bring home.

My mom will take the toy and pay for it. I can wait in line with my mom.



I can sing songs while I wait or talk to my mom about the new toy.

When we walk up to the cashier, my mom will open her purse and

take out her wallet.



We will put the toy on the counter. My mom will give the cashier

money for my new toy.



The cashier will put my new toy in a bag. I can hold the bag and

walk back to the car with my mom. Going to the toy store is a fun

adventure!"



This simple script helped this little boy achieve successful

outings to the toy store with his mother. It soon became a fun

outing for both of them.



She would read the story to him before they left the house.

He even carried the book into the toy store

with him to help remind him of the sequence of events.



One day, this mom decided to sing the social story to her son

simply because she was in a good mood.



It actually proved to be highly effective for several reasons.

Some people use songs to help them recall information because

singing helps "stick" information in your long term memory.



I had one mom say to me, "I wish my Sara could memorize multiplication

facts, after all she knows all the lyrics to Katy Perry's music."



That is simple because songs get stored in our long term memory

easier. There is research that shows that music is a primary

learning modality for some people with ASD. They are hard wired

for music.



I know some of you reading this, may be saying, "Well this is great

if we aren't in a meltdown situation. What do I do in a meltdown?"

If you are in a meltdown situation and you do not yet have a social

story, please try the following:



Do not ask comprehension questions such as, "Why are you

screaming?" Once your child has escalated into a meltdown, do not

bombard them with questions (especially for those with language

processing disorder) this only adds fuel to their fire.



We also want to make sure you do not become more frustrated.

Provide simple tips to calm down and break the meltdown cycle. You

simply want to give directions, "Take 10 deep breaths," and model

it for your child or count to 10 slowly.



The aim is to refocus them and to physically help calm their bodies.

Some parents have reported that simply singing their child's favorite song

helps decrease the length of the meltdown. This is probably because

music triggers memories and their favorite songs probably help

bring them back to a more peaceful state.



Most important, practice makes perfect. Keep writing social

stories and keep practicing these tips. You may not see results

after a day or even a week, but do not give up! The changes you

will see over time may be more than you expected.



I have had countless families tell me how life changing social stories have

been for them. I want you to experience their success using these

techniques.

http://kids.guyshealth.info

11/26/2012

Do you know anyone with an autistic child?

Address

115 Mechanic Street
Boonton, NJ
07005

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Ultimate Autism posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Ultimate Autism:

Share