Autism and More

Benefits of Pool time for a child with Autism

sarahmj — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 05:37:27 +0000

Summer is here and the best place to cool off is the pool. However, for a child with Autism, regular pool time does more that just cooling off. “How?” you ask . Let me explain:

Why more Pool time?

Most of you are aware about the physical advantages of playing around in the pool. It improves the strength of your child’s muscles, and helps in developing coordination between the arms and legs. But did you know that the pressure created by the water could calm/ soothe your child? Similarly time spent in the pool can also arouse your child who is less active. Another important reason for more pool time is the sensory needs it can address.

Sensory Fun at Pool time:

Spending time in the pool is a wonderful way to expose your child to proprioceptive and vestibular input. These sensations are credited to the hydrostatic pressure and buoyancy of the water. Hence jumping around, splashing and floating provides the child with such inputs of sensation. Also an even pressure is exerted throughout the child’s body creating a safe and supported environment.

Lights provide visual inputs to your child. Stick some reflector stickers of different colors on to the bottom of your pool to add in lighting effects. Also, shining light from flashlights (water proof) through colored butter papers provide a visual experience to your child. This can be made more fun, by cutting shapes across the papers eg: fish, dolphins, stars etc and shining light so that the same appears on water. To get a better effect, try this out at dusk.
Have a music system nearby and play your child’s favorite tunes as he/ she splashes around in the water. Beat the water according to the rhythm of the song played.
Everyone loves bubbles. Blow out bubbles/ if u have a bubble machine, place it close to the pool so that your child can try jumping up from the water to catch the bubbles. Add some salts to the water so that as your child thrashes the water, it becomes more foamy. You can also add in salts with aroma to stimulate/ calm your child.
Always have your child’s toys at hand. Add in a squishy duck/ squirt gun/ rubber boat or any other to facilitate play in the water. If you have toys with different textures, then this can provide tactile inputs to your child. You can also place textured rubber mats at the floor of the pool.

Pool at home:

Inflatable pools or metal frame pools are quite handy for those who do not have a regular pool/ find it difficult to go to a recreational centre. The advantage of an inflatable pool is that it can be stored away after use and a metal frame pool gives you more depth. However both types will provide the benefits mentioned above.

Setting things up Safely

Always keep these in mind as you send your child in to the pool:

The temperature of the water needs to be right. The water should be warm to allow your child to enjoy being in the water.
If chlorinated water, always consider swimming goggles. Some children may find this restrictive so create games like being a diver, where swimming goggles is a vital part. Role plays may help the child to accept it better.
Safety while playing in the pool is a great concern. Hence equip your child with floaters/ tubes. And always be around. It is not advised to allow your child to play alone even if it’s a shallow pool.

Water games:

Last but not least, let me wind up with some water games you can try out:

Simon says: every one knows Simon says, but play it in water to add more zest to the command. It can be standing on one leg, thrashing your arms and the plus to this game, along with the various sensations, your child will be following instructions with a smile on his face.
Go Fish: using the flashlight technique mentioned above, shine light on a cut out of a fish. As you shine in different directions, your child has to try to catch the fish.
Bucketing the ball: drop colored balls on the floor of the pool and place buckets of the same on the outside. On your command, the child has to pick the balls and throw it into the bucket. Make it more fun by having a timer or by having someone shout out the color of the balls that need to be picked up.

For more games try this site

Hope these ideas will get you started in having a cool summer. Do send in your experiences also to us.

* picture credit : http://www.a2zsellskidspools.com

Sarah

Fun with hands: Autism skills using Play dough

sarahmj — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 11:51:31 +0000

Every one knows play dough is fun. But is it therapeutic? Can playdough be used to teach skills to children with Autism? The answer is “Yes”! This colored squishy substance, does not just provide your child with opportunities to explore their creativity, but is also an important medium by which you can address various needs of your child.

Exploring uses of Play dough

You’ve played with it, created with it, now let’s see how play dough can be used as a therapy tool:·

Sensory therapy:

Kneading, rolling, punching, squeezing, flattening and raking the dough all provide proprioceptive sensation to your child. Thicker the dough, more the input your child receives.
Adding scents and colors to the dough, provides olfactory and visual sensation.
If your child finds the texture of the dough aversive, initially encourage play with a small amount of the dough. Place little amount on your child’s hands and let them pull the dough off. Also encourage your child to roll the dough between their fingers, on the table or using both palms together. As your child becomes more comfortable, increase the amount of dough used in play. Make the dough coarser by adding rice/ sand to the mixture. Apply talcum powder/ oil on child’s hands to prevent the dough from sticking.
For a child who is on gluten free diet and has a tendency to taste all that he plays with gluten free play dough will be an ideal solution.

For stronger hands:

Play dough helps to improve fine motor functions like, strength, dexterity and coordination of hands.

Along with proprioceptive input, kneading, rolling, puching, squeezing, flattening and raking the dough helps in improving the strength of hand muscles.
Pinching the dough and rolling between the fingers also help in improving dexterous functions of the child’s hands.
Use of tools like scissors, play knives, presses, cutters, rolling pins help to improve bilateral coordination ( i.e: involving coordinated use of both hands in the tasks) of the hands.

Learning:

Playdough can be used to facilitate learning in your child. You can use playdough to teach letters, numbers, shapes, colors and many more to your child. Here are some ways on how!

Talk to your child: A commentary will help your child in learning many concepts. Talking about what you are doing will help your child to learn many concept.Similarly ask your child various questions regarding the dough. Repeated asking and similar play will help the child to learn the colors/shapes.

Learning by doing: Some children learn better while doing/ or by using their hands to create. Teach them on how to make shapes, letters/ numbers. Use the play dough as a slate and draw on it to learn the same. This gives a better impression regarding the concept you were trying to teach to your child. Try telling your child to close their eyes and draw a letter/ number/ shape on the play dough (using his finger) . Now ask your child to guess what was drawn by them and see if your child has learnt the concept.

Mix and match: You can make learning fun by mixing and matching. For eg: you would like to teach your child colors and shapes, so make a shape using the decided color. The key to this play would be to talk continuously to your child. Similarly counting and shapes, make a certain number of shapes and ask your child to count them. You can make a certain letter and ask your child to pick a picture chart of an image which starts with that letter e.g “A for Apple”.

Social skills:

Play using play dough will help your child to interact better with others. Your child may learn

Asking for needs: e.g a particular color of the dough/ a tool they need

Taking turns: when there are more people playing the child may have to wait his turn to use a particular tool

Sharing: by allowing others to play with their toys, or involving in a group game helps your child to learn how to share with others.

Play dough games:

Now that you know the benefits of play dough here are some games you can try out with your child

Theme based play: Own a restaurant, be a teacher a carpenter etc and create using play dough.

Making the longest snake: Roll out the play dough and see who can make the longest snake in the room

Play dough Puppets: Make puppets using the play dough and put on your own show. It can be enacting nursery rhymes, a scene from your household or a small story which your regularly tell your child.

Home made Play dough:

Now that you know how valuable play dough can be to therapy, be prepared. Always have a stash of play dough ready for use at all times. So visit this site to get a handy home made recipe for making play dough. The author has given ideas on adding on scents and colors to the dough which also gives a lot of sensory feedback to your child. A recipe for gluten free play dough is found here.

So what are you waiting for? Go open that can of play dough and explore with your child!

** Picture credit: 30somethingmom.wordpress.com
Sarah

Math for Autism: Count & Place

Ashley — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 11:36:48 +0000

Help your child actively develop the concept of numbers. This activity is simple and easy to perform especially as children learn and understand the value of numbers.

Materials required:

Tray with compartments (e.g. an egg tray)
Items to place (beads, coins) of the same color
Cards with numbers marked

Instructions:

1. Cut the egg tray according to the number of rows.

2. Cut out cards of same size and draw digits 1-9 using a marker pen.

3. Place the cards with the number against the end of each row of the tray appropriately as shown in the picture.

4. Make the child read the number/or read the number out loud and ask the child to place the appropriate number of beads/coins in the tray in line with the number card.

Tips:

For beginners, start with 1-3 and then grade to 5 and then 10.
Encourage child to count as he/she places the beads/coins in the tray.
Reward your child after each completing the task for each number. Rewards can be stickers, a fun activity or anything the child likes.

Adaptations:

Make your own customized number cards or paint the egg tray to make the activity more interesting for the child. You can also use your child’s favorite color in the cards or cut out foam dots shaped as stars as the items to place to add texture.

Precaution:

Ensure that the child doesn’t place the beads/coins in his/her mouth while performing the activity.

Ashley Thomas

Dots and Numbers

Ashley — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 02:58:56 +0000

Help your child develop number concept. This activity is great for a child with autism because it is short and structured.

Materials required:

Picture cards with dots

Blocks/cards with numbers

Print this, stick on card and cut out.

Instructions:

Place the number cards on a table where it is easily visible to the child.
Start with a picture card with one dot and ask the child to find the right number card.
Then introduce picture card with two dots and ask the child to find the right number card and likewise.

Tips:

For beginners, start with 1-3 and then grade to 5 and then 10.
Reward your child after each completing the task for each number. Rewards can be stickers, a fun activity or anything the child likes.

Adaptations:
Make your own customized cards to make the activity more interesting for the child. You can use your child’s favorite color in the cards or cut out foam dots to add texture.

Ashley Thomas

Brushing ideas for a child with Autism

sarahmj — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 14:58:13 +0000

Does your child with autism resort to crying, screaming, clamping their mouth shut, or turning their head sideways during brushing? Do you constantly face this daily struggle with your child? If yes, read on, as here are some ideas to make this task more easier for your child and yourself.

Understanding “Why”?

It helps when you understand the cause to a problem. Children with autism cope better when they understand the whole picture and not a part of it. For this task, brushing is the “whole” whereas toothbrush, toothpaste, sink, tap, water, and opening mouth are all “parts” to the process of brushing. Thus your child may fail to understand how all these parts “fit together” to end in “brushing teeth”. Also your child may not be clear about the idea “clean and dirty teeth”. The issues pertaining to sensation (of brush, taste of toothpaste, movement of brush along gums and teeth) is another probable cause for difficulty in brushing.

Preparing your child:

Teaching the parts that form the whole: Introduce each object as something which is necessary for the act of brushing teeth. You can have pictures made and put up near the sink identifying each object and linked to the act of brushing. Model on yourself and show your child the step by step action of brushing, while introducing the various parts necessary for brushing. This also helps your child to feel less threatened by brushing the next time

Social stories: Create a song or story about brushing, the need of brushing and process of brushing. Use these stories as you brush your teeth and repeat while brushing your child’s teeth. Encourage your child to brush your teeth and that of their dolls before brushing theirs as it gives them confidence and helps to accept brushing.

Oral Stimulation:

Explore various sensations related to brushing. Use your child’s hands to give pressure around the mouth, gums and teeth. Chewing and eating foods of different textures also helps.

Opening the mouth is vital to brushing. Play a game with your child making faces in front of the mirror eg: “opening mouth, saying AH, grimacing, rubbing your tongue over your teeth” so that it prepares the child in opening their mouth for brushing.

First Steps: As children have better control over what they put in their mouth, it is better to initiate with child himself. Encourage the child to taste the flavored toothpaste by placing it on his finger. Once the child likes the taste, put a small dab on the toothbrush and encourage them to place the brush in the mouth (or do so manually). The most common response is for the child to suck / chew on the bristles, so repeat the task for 3-4 days. Next put a little of toothpaste on his index finger and let him gently apply it over his teeth. If your child shows no signs of discomfort, proceed to the next stage by letting him rub it in a front and back motion and also up and down the teeth. This reduces the aversion towards having the paste rubbed on to the teeth and proceed with the brush. Teach the act of spitting and rinsing his mouth. Reward the child for each step completed successfully . Over the weeks, gradually increase the length of time you brush.

Modifications:

To reduce the issues related to toothbrush and paste:

Toothbrush: Use soft / ultra soft toothbrushes. Allow your child to select the color and the type (as the handles of some may have the pictures of their favorite cartoon characters). The bristles should be end rounded i.e: a polishing machine is used to round the rough cut ends of the bristles. Brushes with thicker handles allow your child to have a better grip. Also available are brushes with angled heads so that it is easier to reach the deeper parts of the mouth

Toothpaste: There are various flavored toothpaste available, purchase one according to your child’s preference. Initially use only a pea sized amount of toothpaste as it prevents excessive foam in the mouth. As your child gets better at brushing eventually fade in with the more conventional toothpaste.

Create a routine:

Your child will cooperate better if brushing is always done at a fixed time, and in a particular way. Create a routine while brushing. Start from one end of the mouth and proceed to the other, the bottom teeth first followed by the top teeth. You can also count teeth as you brush so that your child knows when the task will end. Similarly brushing songs will help the child to remember if he has missed any part of the task eg : forgot to brush the bottom teeth. This will help in remembering the sequence of the task.

Go ahead, try out these ideas and hope you have a sparkling time!

Sarah

Sensory Therapy for Autism With a Swiss Ball

dominicablog — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 17:50:36 +0000

Swiss balls / Exercise balls/ Therapy balls are a commonly used at Occupational therapy and Physiotherapy centers. These are used to for both motor and sensory therapy. Swiss balls can be easily used, even at home to provide vestibular and proprioceptive input. You can do many sensory activities with a Swiss ball that can become part of your child’s daily sensory diet. With new varieties of Swiss balls available easily in the market, they can now be used to provide other sensations like visual, tactile and auditory. Here are few ideas to get you started:

Proprioceptive Sensation:
To provide this input, roll the Swiss ball over your child like a road roller. If your child does not allow you to do that, encourage therapy by including your other kids in the activity. Make them all lie on the floor next to each other and road roll the ball over them.

Another way is to gently press the ball over the child’s body (care should be taken not to press to hard over the abdomen). This can also be combined with a technique called neutral warmth i.e: the child is wrapped in a blanket tightly and then the ball is used. The activity can be performed by the usual Swiss balls, or even pea balls. A pea ball is a modified Swiss ball in the shape of a peanut, thereby helping you to control the amount of pressure given to the child more easily( press gently on the sides of the ball to provide adequate pressure).

For stimulation to hands and feet, make the child push the ball up and down the wall (using hands) and against the wall (using legs). Playing catch or kicking the ball also provides similar stimulation. Ask your child to hold the therapy ball by enveloping the ball and squeeze to provide more input to the arms.

Vestibular Sensation
You must have seen therapists bouncing a child on the ball. Make this activity even more fun by using a hippity ball ( it has a handle the child can hold on to, while bouncing). This allows the child to bounce themselves without falling off. You can also get a smaller Swiss ball which allows the child to place his feet on the ground, reducing the risk of falling. Count the number of times your child can bounce on the ball or have a hippity race. For the race, make a track and encourage your child to bounce from one point to another. For adding challenge to the activity, form the track using cones (in the shape of “S” ) so that your child has to both bounce and maneuver the track.

Visual, Tactile and Auditory Sensation:
New varieties of Swiss balls allow for new activities and a whole new range of sensations.

Activity balls: These are Swiss balls that have different colored balls inside that fly around when the ball is bounced or rolled.

Each time your child rolls or bounces the activity ball, the colored balls inside provide visual input. Encourage your child to incorporate the activity balls in his/ her play .
Another idea is to keep the ball bouncing so that the colored balls continue to fly for a long time.
Use the activity ball as a timer i.e let your child pick up some objects before the colored balls stop rolling.

Massage therapy ball: These have hundreds of nubs along its surface thereby providing a sensation of touch when the ball is rubbed, rolled, pulled and pushed.

For auditory sensations encourage your child to drum on the Swiss balls. Teach your child various beats to drum on the ball, or have a music symphony where your child is the drummer and you have another musical instrument. Place the balls on various surfaces like a wooden floor, cemented floor or carpeted floor to get different drumming sounds.

Before I let you go, let me jot down a few fun games using Swiss balls which you can try at home:

Naming game:
Name the body part / direction in which you want the child to hand the ball towards you. Instruct your child to roll the ball using his knee / elbows. Lift and pass the ball over the child’s head or between his feet or on either side of his body.

Relay game:
Dribble or push the Swiss balls around an obstacle course and pass it to another child at the end of the lane and continue back and forth.

Itsy bitsy Spider:
Sing the rhyme and roll the ball up and down the wall along with the rhyme.

So, go and buy a Swiss ball and start sensory therapy at home. Try out these ideas and let us know how they worked for you.

Sarah Joseph

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Autism: A Review

dominicablog — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 11:15:06 +0000

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy or HBOT is a form of treatment in which the patient breathes up to 100% oxygen intermittently under pressures greater than normal atmospheric pressure. This method was first used to treat decompression sickness, or ‘the bends’ in deep sea divers who faced problems when surfacing too quickly. As time went on it was used to treat other conditions too, like air embolisms, carbon monoxide poisoning, exceptional blood loss and non healing wounds.

In recent years, research has shown that some individuals with autism may have less oxygen reaching the brain and some signs of brain cell inflammation, particularly in areas related to language and auditory processing. This encouraged the use of HBOT in people with Autism too, in the hope that enough oxygen reaching these areas, might help the symptoms. HBOT is currently an experimental treatment for Autism, and its popularity is mainly based on anecdotal evidence.

How Does it Work?

This therapy works on the principle that oxygen has the capacity to promote growth, reduce swelling and inflammation, improve the body’s ability to fight infection, clear out toxins and metabolic waste products and improve the rate of healing. The high pressures used in HBOT increases the free oxygen in body fluids, so tissues have more oxygen reaching them. Now, it was traditionally thought that if brain tissue is damaged or experiences lack of oxygen (say due to an umbilical cord wrapped tight around the neck of a fetus) cell death could occur in 4 to 6 hours. But newer theories speculate that perhaps these cells are not dead but dormant, just because they don’t have enough oxygen to perform functions normally. Or maybe a few dead cells are surrounded by a perimeter of these ‘idling cells’. HBOT thus aims at trying to provide much needed oxygen to these cells, hoping that they respond favorably.

Furthermore, it is also thought that HBOT could improve the brain’s overall ability to absorb oxygen. It may also improve intestinal health, which plagues many an Autistic child, by fighting anaerobic viruses, bacteria and parasites.

How Is It Done?

A special hyperbaric chamber is used in HBOT. This is usually a non-portable, long, tube-like chamber filled with pressurized oxygen. Two types of chambers are typically used: the monoplace chamber (that allows a single person inside) and the multiplace chamber (in which 2 or more people can enter). Patients may also breathe in oxygen through masks, hood systems or tubes.

A session could last for 45 to 60 minutes during which the patient can sit/lie down comfortably and watch TV, read a book, play on a Gameboy or take a nap. Communication with the outside is possible through intercom, a TV screen or glass windows. An adult can also accompany the child if there is room. Children are allowed to drink water to adjust ear pressures.

It usually just feels like sitting in an airplane. Highly trained technicians should closely monitor pressures and the child. Pressures can go up to 1.5 or even 1.7 ATA, which is the depth of 10 to 20 feet of sea water. Pressurization and depressurization are prolonged to reduce discomfort in the ears.

How Safe Is It? Are There Any Side Effects?

The most common side effects seen are ear pain and reversible myopia (near sightedness), which should return to normal in 8 weeks. Trauma to earsdrums and sinuses is what causes the pain. Some children may get claustrophobic but that can be averted with relaxation techniques and sometimes mild sedation. Seizures may occur, and very rarely, oxygen toxicity. HBOT is contraindicated for people with a history of seizures, acidosis, fever, low blood sugar levels, asthma and other lung problems, optic neuritis, colds and other infections.

What Does Research Have to Say About It?

HBOT is not scientifically verified and research is only in its early stages. Studies that have been done so far have shown results ranging from insignificant effects to greatly improving symptoms. Some favorable studies have shown that after 40 hours of treatment for over a month children have been less irritable, more responsive to conversation, showed more eye contact and proved to be more sociable than children who didn’t get the treatment. However, it was not clear exactly why the treatment might have helped. Some evidence even shows that HBOT might mobilize stem cells from human bone marrow and aid the recovery of neurodegenerative diseases. What all scientists agree on is that HBOT is not a cure for Autism and more research is required before its results can be confirmed. Testimonies from families are mostly encouraging.

How Do I Get Started?

HBOT should ideally be performed in a formal clinical setting like an Autism clinic or a children’s hospital. Doctors involved in it should be certified in HBOT and proper methodology should be used at every step.

Remember that small errors could cause big problems, so be careful about choosing a reliable place. Don’t hesitate to ask questions till you are satisfied. Some families may buy hyperbaric chambers to use at home but this is not recommended in the initial phase nor has it been researched. Make sure you know how to handle all types of complications before launching into this all by yourself.

How Long Does It Take To Work?

Results begin to show after around 40 sessions, and get better after 80 sessions. A session should last from 45 minutes to an hour.

How Much Would It Cost?

One session could cost between $120 and $150. Presently insurance companies do not pay for HBOT, but some parents are petitioning for the same.

The Verdict:

HBOT is based on some very interesting theories and a lot of people are hoping that it will prove to have the effects we have all been looking for in the treatment of children with Autism.

But what cannot be argued with right now is that there is not enough research to deem it absolutely safe and effective and not every child responds to it.

Cost happens to be another let down, especially since at least 40 sessions of it are needed. Hopefully in the future, with better technological advancements it can be proved safer and more effective but at present, it should not be used except to complement more proven therapies and treatments.

Sharon

Click here to view a list of references and resources.

Image credit:http://www.perlhealth.com/perlmutter-hyperberic-center/

Paper Mache as a Sensory Activity for Autism

dominicablog — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 09:49:35 +0000

Paper mâché can be used to provide sensory input to a child with autism. The process of tearing paper, making paste out of glue and water and mixing the torn bits of paper into the paste helps the child experience varieties of sensations. Thus the activity can be fun as well as therapeutic for the child.

For those of you who are trying out the activity for the first time, visit this page to learn how to go about doing paper mache’.

Some paper mâché projects which you can try with your child are:

Rings
Bowls
Shaped objects
Face masks etc

While doing this activity with a child with Autism, you may face some challenges. The activity may be too long for the child. The child may like to eat the glue. Some children may not like the sensation of the glue water paste and may refuse to do the activity.

Here are some ideas that may help…

Reducing the time:

Rather than large objects, you may choose smaller objects like a coin, ring box etc as your base object on which you do paper mache. Another tip would be to use flat objects as they require paper on just one side.

Safety :

If your child has a tendency to put the paste in their mouth, create the paste using flour and water. This makes the activity safer for the child. Read here about how to make different types of home made paste mixtures.

Sensory Therapy

Some children with autism may not tolerate the sensation of glue on their fingers. One option is to substitute glue with a flour and water mixture. Another option is to soak cooked rice in little water, and mash it to use it as a paste. You can also experiment with home made glues, as that will give you the ability to try different textures. Another solution is to allow your child to use gloves or a brush to spread glue.

To use this activity as a therapy to increase tolerance to glue, or similar textures you can allow the child to keep a mug of water nearby and wash their hands every 2 minutes and slowly increase the time.

Paper mache is such a great activity for sensory therapy because the child is involved in the “fun” aspect of the activity and can sometimes forget about the uncomfortable sensations. Start with small and simple projects and decorate them with paint or glitter.

I hope these ideas have inspired you with creative ways to try out paper mâché projects with your child. Do share your experiences with us.

Sarah

Sarah is an Occupational Therapist and a new member of our writing team. Read more about her in the “Our Team” page.

Using Bath time as a Sensory Therapy

dominicablog — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 12:40:05 +0000

Who said that only Occupational Therapists can give sensory therapy? Most children with autism need a balanced sensory diet, that is, opportunities to participate in a variety of sensory activities and experience all the different sensations over the day. Although the level and type of sensory input each child needs is different, they all benefit from sensory input during bath time.

So what is bath time with your child like? Is it a hurried time, where you are struggling to get it done and over, or is it a relaxed time for both you and your child? Here are a few ideas to help you convert bath time into a sensory therapeutic experience. I’ve written these pointers keeping a child between 2 and 8 in my mind, so you may need to adapt the ideas for an older child.

Preparing for bath time:

Schedule 45 minutes to an hour for bath time. It can’t be therapeutic if you are in a hurry.
Prepare to give your child your full attention. Leave your cell phone behind.
Fill the tub with water of a comfortable temperature.
Experiment with a variety of bath salts/ aromatic bath gels. Be cautious of allergies and toxins.
Ensure that the lighting is comfortable for your child.
Keep a variety of bath toys, including noise making or squeaky toys if your child enjoys them.

During bath time:

Get your child involved in the bathing routine, right from taking off clothes and putting them into the laundry basket to rubbing themselves with a sponge.
Use one or more scrubbers or sponges of different textures to rub your child while they are in the water.
Spend time shampooing your child’s hair and massage it in the process.
Sing favorite songs and rhymes if your child is younger and is developing language.
If your child can communicate, this might be a great opportunity to talk.

After bath time:

Rub your child with a soft towel. Take time to rub. Keep in mind that the purpose is not only to get your child dry, but also to give him/her a different type of sensory experience.
Rub lotion on your child. As you do that, massage his/her body. Also get the child involved in rubbing lotion on himself/herself.
Get your child involved in putting on clothes.

When you do something for the child, you give the child a sensory experience, and that is important. But also keep in mind that, when the child himself does something, like rub lotion on himself, it helps to develop his body image and helps the development of the sensory systems in a different way. So make sure that there is a combination of the two.

Some children may not like or may not be able to tolerate some of the steps mentioned above like being rubbed by a towel. In that case, try and change the material to something softer and less offensive, and slowly help your child get used to a variety of textures and sensations.

I know bath time might be a difficult time for a lot of parents with children with autism. If your child resists bath time, try and change some of the sensory aspects of bath time to see if they cooperate better.Some ideas include changing the temperature of the water, sponge baths instead of tub baths, changing the lighting and changing the sponge or washcloth. In addition, routines before and after bath time can help some children. Most of all, be patient and sensitive to what your child is trying to communicate.

So now that you’re armed with all these tips and advice, prepare for bath time, and make it therapeutic!

Do you have any pointers to add?

Teaching Children with Autism about Emotions:

dominicablog — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 08:05:38 +0000

Emotions are one of the things children with autism find very difficult to communicate. Here’s an idea to get your toddler or young child with autism to learn to define their emotions.

Use Emotion words frequently- some words you can start with are mad, happy, sad and angry. Every time the child is going through that emotion, use the word and emphasize it. For Example “Are you mad?” or “Did you get mad because ______(use name) hit you?”

The more you use that particular word, the more your child will get familiar with the word and start using it. You can also emphasize the expression of the emotion on your face to get the child to understand more about expressing themselves non verbally.

You can also talk about the characters in a short story and how they felt. Another idea is to model talking about feelings by doing it yourself.

Finally, when your child does use a word to express his/ her emotion, make sure that you respond accordingly and help them deal with their feelings. Help them to realize that sharing their emotions is a good and positive thing.

Just remember that all children take time to start talking about their feelings and it does not happen overnight. However, by using the words frequently, and talking about them, we teach the child the words so that they can use it whenever they are ready to.