Autism-World

My 4 yr old is autistic, I babysit a 2 yr old with either SID or autism, we’re still trying to get that dx’d one way or the other, and my 2 yr old has mild sensory issues.

From what I’ve learned with doing my own therapy with them, the best toys are going to be the ones that provide sensory input. Play-doh, fingerpainting, running hands through flour when they’re stressed to calm them down, playing in a bucket of dried rice and beans for stimulation, painting in whipped cream or shaving cream.

Also, the old fashioned toys like wooden puzzles with knobs, shape sorters, legos, things that will provide sensory input while working on fine motor skills and body awareness. I also do a lot of songs as autistic children respond very well to music. We do things like Head Shoulders Knees and Toes, London Bridges, things like that that engages them in song while making them think and respond and the same time.

I use a floortime type session every day in which we work on all of these things, and also use flash cards to work on speech and memory skills, and color using different mediums, ie. markers, crayons, etc., so they learn they have to use different pressure for different things.

We do oral activities against autism as well, playing follow the leader with our faces. I make a face and they copy, I make a sound they copy. We also put cheerios on a table and have them attempt to pick them up with their tongue. There are so many things to do, that is therapy in disguise. Oh, and swings, slides, anything that works on motion.

Basically, my philosophy is, if they’re struggling with an issue, that’s what we target. I don’t let them stay in their comfort zone all the time. I give them their routines, but when it’s time to work, we do it.

Right now with the one I babysit I’m working on his vestibular issues, so I’m holding his hand as he walks on a balance beam, hold him in my arms and gently swing him around like an airplane, things like that. I could go on and on!

The more fun you make it, the more the kid with autism be likely to engage in the activity, and literally turn anything in the house into a learning opportunity. They have made TREMENDOUS progress since starting to do all of these things, so I know it’s working.

Technorati : autism

This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 24th, 2007 at 5:18 pm and is filed under Autism Stories.