Tag: Children
HomePosts tagged “Children”

Tag: Children

How Supplements Might Be Able to Help Your Child With Autism

How Supplements Might Be Able to Help Your Child With Autism

We always tell our children that they need to eat their vegetables to grow up healthy and strong. With some children, pretending the spoon is an airplane that lands delicious veggies into their mouth may lead to success. But, unfortunately, for most children, getting them to eat healthily isn’t always the easiest task.

The challenge could be just as tough when it comes to children with autism and other intellectual disabilities. For example, if your child is a picky eater, you must closely monitor their vitamin and mineral intake to ensure they get the necessary nutrition. The danger exists when your child doesn’t receive those essential nutrients required by their body, hindering their development.

What can you do to help your child get better nutrition? Many parents have looked towards supplements that might be able to help your child with autism. Let’s consider:

  • Can supplements really help my child with autism?
  • Which supplements have proven effective with autism symptoms?
  • Can supplements be beneficial before your child is born?
  • What other treatment options exist for children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD)?

Can Supplements Really Help My Child With Autism?

It’s routine for parents to take their children to the doctor to check up on how they are doing as they grow. If you inform them about their eating habits or lack thereof, they will most likely suggest helpful dietary improvements through diet changes and supplementation. While many parents could find themselves trying different supplements for their children, it’s always crucial to consult with their primary physician.

Studies have shown that supplements for children can help to reduce the risk of stunted bone and muscle growth, obesity, heart disease, and diabetes. When it comes to autistic children, supplements can also help with:

  • Problems sleeping
  • Issues with digestion
  • Improving eye contact
  • Behavioral disorders
  • Depression

ASD isn’t a medical condition that can be cured, but vitamin and dietary supplements may help your child stay physically healthy and feeling better. In addition, doing so could reduce some of the maladaptive behaviors they engage in.

Be Aware of Nutrient Imbalances With Supplements

Why is it necessary to check with your child’s doctor even if you’ve learned from research that certain supplements could help? While studies prove that supplements are effective, not knowing precisely which nutrients they lack could be a problem. In addition, giving them vitamins or other supplements they don’t need leads to nutrient imbalances and other health issues. 

Your child’s doctor will get blood work done to check their levels of different nutrients necessary for their development. After they get the results, they will prescribe the supplements they need and monitor their levels.

Which Supplements Have Proven Effective With Autism Symptoms?

Children with ASD commonly display these symptoms that may concern parents:

  • Aggression
  • Speech problems
  • Anxiety
  • Sleeping disorders

Here are some of the most effective supplements doctors have prescribed to children with ASD and what foods naturally contain these vitamins and minerals.

Vitamin D

One of the most studied supplements with autism is Vitamin D because many autistic children often show deficits in this vitamin. It was found that vitamin D affects the neurotransmitters in the brain, helping the brain form new connections and strengthen those connections that already exist.

Keeping these facts in mind, children with autism who receive Vitamin D supplements saw a decrease in symptoms associated with autism, such as:

  • Social interaction difficulties
  • Communication
  • Repetitive behaviors

Sources of Vitamin D:

Sunlight is an excellent source of vitamin D because, when exposed to it, the body can produce vitamin D naturally. Some foods that are natural sources of Vitamin D include:

  • Salmon
  • Sardines
  • Egg yolk
  • Shrimp

Since there aren’t many options, some foods are fortified with vitamin D. These include:

  • Milk
  • Cereal
  • Yogurt
  • Orange juice

Oxytocin

According to the American Psychological Association (APA), oxytocin is a hormone “produced mainly in the hypothalamus, where it is either released into the blood via the pituitary gland or to other parts of the brain and spinal cord, where it binds to oxytocin receptors to influence behavior and physiology.”

In other words, this chemical that’s naturally produced within the brain affects the part of the brain associated with social bonding and social interactions. Although studies have been inconclusive on whether there’s a direct correlation between oxytocin levels and ASD, some children have shown moderate improvements in social function with this supplement.

Vitamin B-6

Another essential nutrient is vitamin B6 because it promotes normal brain development and keeps our nervous system and immune system healthy. Vitamin B6 may also improve your child’s mood and reduce symptoms of depression.

If your child lacks sufficient vitamin B6, good foods sources include:

  • Turkey
  • Chickpeas
  • Tuna
  • Salmon
  • Potatoes
  • Bananas

In most cases, vitamin B6 is supplemented with magnesium to prevent an upset stomach.

Magnesium

Magnesium also ensures that your brain and muscle cells function correctly. Studies have shown that some autistic children may have a magnesium deficiency even though the cause is unknown.  You can find magnesium in many foods, such as:

  • Seeds
  • Nuts
  • Whole grains
  • Leafy vegetables.

Melatonin

One common symptom of ASD is difficulty sleeping. Some studies have shown that there could be a correlation between low melatonin levels and the severity of autism symptoms in children. Since melatonin is the body’s hormone that regulates our sleep/wake cycles, it’s no surprise that difficulty sleeping can lead to aggression in children with autism.

Melatonin supplements are frequently used to treat insomnia, difficulty falling asleep, or difficulty staying asleep. Improving your child’s sleeping habits will help you sleep better at night and may positively affect daytime behaviors.

Foods that are rich in melatonin include:

  • Tart Cherries
  • Goji Berries
  • Eggs
  • Milk
  • Fish
  • Nuts

Methyl Vitamin B12

Children with autism often experience problems with speech, and this impairment could be due to difficulty processing methyl B-12 within the body. Since the brain needs this vitamin to support cognition, methyl vitamin B12 supplements can act on specific pathways to improve certain brain processes, such as speech.

Marijuana/CBD

Research on the medicinal properties of marijuana (cannabis) has picked up since the U.S government passed the Farm Bill in 2018, which made hemp legal and allowed hemp-derived CBD products with less than 0.3% of THC federally legal.

Using CBD products to treat autism aggression and other symptoms, research has shown that it can be effective but still requires further study to determine how safe it is.

Other Supplements That Might Help Your Child With Autism

Here’s a list of other supplements and how they can be beneficial to children with autism:

  • Dimethylglycine (DMG) and trimethyl glycine (TMG). These substances can enhance the immune system, improve specific behaviors, reduce seizures, and improve language.
  • N-acetylcysteine (NAC). This supplement increases the levels of antioxidants in the body, which improves its natural defense system. NAC supplementation lowered irritability in children with autism and reduced engagement in repetitive behaviors in one study.
  • Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). GABA is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system and reduces neuronal excitability. Using this supplement in children with autism can decrease anxiety, improve mood, and reduce seizures.

Can Supplements Be Useful Before Your Child is Born?

The nutrients your child needs should be a concern even before they are born. Although more research needs to be done, many studies have found correlations between nutrient deficiency during pregnancy and autism.

Speak to your doctor about the many benefits of prenatal vitamins and any other supplements you may need to keep your unborn baby healthy.

What Other Treatment Options Exist For Children With ASD?

There are various supplement options that you can discuss with your child’s primary care provider. However, the road to improve difficulties your child faces, such as speech, requires a combination of many methods.

For autistic children that can’t communicate, speech therapy can be an excellent treatment option. In addition, speech therapy can help children with developmental disorders, such as ASD, understand and use spoken language socially.

Some of the skills that a certified speech-language therapist will focus on with your autistic child include:

  • Non-verbal communication skills. The therapist will use such tools as gesturing, Picture Exchange Communication Systems (PECS), or electronic talking devices.
  • Use of questions. The therapist can work on your child’s ability to ask and answer questions.
  • Speech pragmatics. This training teaches your child to know when, how, and to whom they should say certain phrases like “Good morning.” They will also understand the meaning of idioms and how to use them.
  • Conversational skills. Speech therapists want your child to learn to carry on a conversation.
  • Concept skills. Children with autism typically have a tough time with ideas like “few,” “justice,” and “liberty,” so your speech therapist will focus on helping them understand these concepts.

Get Advice From Our #austismarmy

Parents! You’re not alone on this complex and ever-changing journey with your exceptional child. Our love for our children keeps us eager to search for any means necessary to make their life better as they grow up.

For this reason, Normal Life, Inc. was founded in 2015 to provide help to families of children with autism or other intellectual disabilities. We want to transform the world of autism resources by giving parents first-hand advice from other parents going through the same situation. Here is a link for more ideas from our You Tube Channel. 

You can find information on our website that’s filled with blogs on various topics that can be useful and connect to our expanding community through our YouTube channel or our Facebook group #autismarmy.

Toilet Training Techniques: Smearing BM

A common behavior with Autistic children, or kids with special needs, is fecal smearing. Although it may seem like your child thinks this is fun to do, fecal smearing has serious health risks and can cause real damage to your property. The terrible anxiety it causes you as a parent or guardian is beyond description, but something can be done about it! Whether it is intentional or accidental, we must look into all avenues to stop this behavior. You should always start with the least restrictive first.

Tip #1 

Literally give them fiber gummies from walmart. They look like the candy “dots” and taste like candy. I love this! It won’t give them cramps, It doesn’t cause an upset tummy. Some of the side effects of other brands can cause discomfort. Try it yourself. I usually try everything myself because my non-verbal child can’t tell me how he feels. This added to their morning medication or routine will assist in their routine with poo.They will usually go by 3 or 4 pm if you give them Fiber gummies in the morning. Sometimes if they are backed up and they don’t go. Keep giving them fiber every morning until they go. Then once they are on a routine then their body will be on a routine of pooping. I usually give my children 3 gummies. These are only for the children who have trouble.

I start with the biggest secret because it’s the most important. These gummy’s have been tried on all my children and it took me years to find them. They also provide these children with the perfect poo. Believe me some fiber options make their poo pasty or too loose and these two are the worst to clean up. (If they are backed up sometimes it will start out loose then go to form and might hurt the first time until they are regular.) Keep them regular on their liquids also. This will help with fully toilet training. Before doing the data add the fiber to their morning.

Most people have a bowel movement around the same time every day. So in order to help us to more fully understand when this is most likely to occur with our child, we must take accurate data and record the times of day when your child has a bowel movement for three days.

 

Hour/Day

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

1:00

X

1:30

X

2:00

X

2:30

Then, after reviewing that collected data, we could see his/her regular schedule of times which he/she was more likely to defecate is within the hour from 1pm to 2pm. So place them on the toilet at 1pm. If they didn’t go. Then try again at 1:30pm and so on.

When he/she has a bowel movement in the toilet, reward them with praise, either with clapping and saying “right on!”, I sing my own song to Curits, “Poo Poo in the toil’et, Poo poo in the toil’et” with an edible treat. Curtis liked M & M’s. They must receive positive attention from you. Make sure you still mark it down until they are in a regular routine.

One more important thing! 

When they do a smear, pay them no mind. No eye contact, no noises, just be a monotone. Any type of interaction could turn into a reward. Only do this while cleaning him/her and the room up. Then after you are all done. Then go outside and cry.. But don’t show them any reaction.  Only give a positive reaction when they pee or poo in the toilet.

I have been able to get my non-verbal 23 year old, who has a mind of a 10 month old baby toilet trained, but it is called tripped trained *. Tripped Trained: Is when you can get your child in such a great routine. That they hold everything until the morning. Put them on the toilet and they go. After lunch, put them on the toilet and they go. After 3 oclock snacks, put them on the toilet and they go. After dinner, put them on the toilet and they go. Then before bed time, put them on the toilet and they go. And usually their accidents are because someone forgot to put them on the toilet.

Tip #2   

The most important thing is to rip out the carpet!! In your child’s room. The institutions were I worked had no carpet, so when a client smeared feces, we washed it up easily. I know many people don’t want to rip out their son’s or daughter’s carpet.  Believe me you will thank yourself for listening to me. Nothing like trying to clean out ground in feces out of carpets and trying to get out that smell. Along with all the times you went to get your kids up from playing in their rooms and you find a big wet spot from the diaper leakage. Go to your local Lowes and get a floor kit and start a new project of simplifying your life. This is the best alternative!

Tip #3

Buy tighty whities and buy them snug. After placing the diaper on, put on tighty whities on and this will help for fecal leakage if there should be a bowel movement. I even send my child to school with underwear over their diaper to help them out. Sometimes that stuff can drop right down the legs then we have a bigger mess on our hands. We don’t want our children to get embarrassed at school for leaking their diapers.

Tip #4 

Go buy onesie PJs.This is for the children who find a “new toy” in their pants. Put the onesie on backwards and zip them up. Make sure they don’t have feet in them, and if they do,cut them off. Winter is the best time of year to find these in all stores and in all sizes. Even in the men’s department for those bigger kids. This will help them from having wandering hands. If you have a child that is known for ripping up their onesie. Then spend the money to purchase a ‘no-rip jump suit from this website http://adaptiveclothingshowroom.com  I get no kick back, look through their items it might be worth it.

Side Note: In the state of Washington, a child at the age of 3 year, who is not toilet trained may get a prescription from their pediatrician to have diapers paid for from either your health insurance or DSHS. However, the state diapers are cheap. If you are unhappy with the diapers they send you. Call them and ask for samples. They are happy to accommodate. So check your state or insurance to see where your child might be covered. Or try the top ten we have chosen https://normallifeinc.com/autism-awareness-blog/10-best-adult-diapers-available-for-sale-in-2020/

I hoped we helped. Please give a review and brag about toilet training your child! Please if this doesn’t work let us know. Every child is different. Please join our group on facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/autismarmy many of us have already raised our children and it’s a nice place to vent if needed, along with many ideas from other parents. Join us on you tube and Subscribe Here is a link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YtbMDK3JK8&t=20s

 

How to Make a DIY PECS Board at Home

How to Make a DIY PECS Board At Home

The minds of our kids and their capability to learn are constantly growing as they become older. The ideal way to make sure your child reaches their fullest potential is to find the teaching tools that will better assist their learning process. 

Since the learning styles of every child are different, you must try all of the methods available. One of the most effective methods for improving your child’s communication and speech skills is PECS.

What is PECS?

PECS is an acronym that stands for Picture Exchange Communication System. PECS is a great teaching tool that helps nonverbal children communicate without words, such as those with autism.

This system starts by using pictures to allow your child to make choices and convey what they need. Eventually, those same pictures are used to teach them the words they represent and encourage verbal communication.

But where did this method come from?

History of PECS

The Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) was developed by Andy Bondy and his wife, Lori Frost, in 1985 here in the USA. The teaching method, based on the book Verbal Behavior by B.F. Skinner, focuses on the idea that behavior can be determined by the consequences, whether they are reinforcements or punishments, making it more or less likely that behavior will happen again. 

Another aspect in developing the PECS system included the broad spectrum of Applied Behavior Analysis, which is “the practice of applying the psychological principles of learning theory in a systematic way to modify behavior.” 

Understanding How PECS Works

PECS has been used worldwide to help thousands of people of various ages and with an array of cognitive, physical, and communication challenges. This teaching tool consists of the following six phases:

Phase 1: Learning How to Communicate

Have you ever heard the saying “a picture is worth a thousand words”? A single image can convey a whole story sometimes better than any amount of descriptive text. 

PECS uses this idea with simple pictures of everyday items or activities that your child wants or needs. You’ll encourage your child to choose one of the pictures they want and bring it to you to exchange for the actual item. For example, if they want an apple, they will hand you a picture of the apple, and you will give them an apple.

Phase 2: Distance and Persistence

Once you believe that your child has understood how to communicate with pictures what they want, you can begin to associate certain items with specific areas of your home. During this phase, you can also start to use PECS with different members of the family, other visitors, and across distances.

The idea behind phase 2 is to teach your child how to become a more persistent communicator.

Phase 3: Picture Discrimination

In Phase 3, you start to challenge your child a bit more by having them select from multiple pictures to help them ask for their favorite things. 

When you give your child various choices, the best option to make it easier for them to choose is utilizing some kind of PECS communication device. The most common device is a ringed binder with Velcro strips where your child can easily find the pictures they have learned, remove them, and hand them over to someone.

Phase 4: Sentence Structure

As your child becomes more comfortable using pictures, they’ll be ready to face a challenge by constructing simple sentences. For example, your PECS communication device can have a “Sentence Strip” with an image representing and containing the phrase “I want.” They will then need to place a picture of the item they’re requesting next to the “I want” picture.

Phase 5: Responsive Requesting

Phase 5 begins to combine their picture communication skills with verbal cues. For example, your child will learn to use their PECS communication device to answer questions like “What do you want?”.

Phase 6: Commenting

After your child has successfully implemented Phase 5, they can now be taught to comment in response to questions such as:

  • What do you see?
  • What do you hear?
  • What is it?

Their response will allow them to create sentences that start with “I see,” “I hear,” “I feel,” and “It is a.” You’ll be able to progressively add different pictures to your child’s “vocabulary” as they become more comfortable expressing themselves using their PECS communication device.

How Can I Make My Own PECS Board?

As a parent, no price is too high for an effective tool that helps develop your child’s communication and speech skills. But it’s also essential to try the basic concept of a PECS teaching method to determine how your child will respond.

Creating your own Picture Exchange Communication System at home will help you begin to develop vital skills without investing in expensive tools that may not work. Some of the items you will need to create your own PECS board include:

  • Sturdy material such as wood
  • Printed and laminated pictures
  • Velcro

Step 1: Create a Sturdy Base

You must make your PECS board of sturdy material because children will easily drop and throw most items. Start with a board the size of a binder made out of plywood that’s safe to handle or purchase a chalkboard (they usually come in various sizes).  

Step 2: Print and Laminate Pictures

Every child has their favorite snack, toy, or activity, and these are pictures that will be ideal to start with. For most children, actual pictures of these familiar items taken with a digital camera will be easier to recognize, but you can also use cartoons or other clipart available online.

Make sure your pictures are about the size of a three-inch square and then laminate them to make them more durable. Even though you want to begin with fewer pictures while your child begins to understand the PECS method, print out various items so you can have them ready.

Step 3: Place the Velcro

Once you have your sturdy base, turn it to the landscape position and evenly place about three rows of velcro strips from left to right. Depending on the size of your board, you may be able to fit more rows and even include the “Sentence Strip” you will need in Phase 4.

You will also need to place velcro strips on the back of each laminated picture so they can easily be identified and removed from your PECS board.

How to Use Your PECS Board Correctly

Using the PECS teaching method can help your child in various ways. All of us have to make choices daily, whether they’re big decisions or not, and your child is no different. As they start to understand how PECS works, you can create either a bigger board or multiple boards to aid them in the following categories:

PECS Board For Choices

Create a board for items they have to choose between during their day. For example, you can place the different snacks they can pick from or their favorite beverages on the board. Multiple boards will make implementing Phase 2, “Distance and Persistence,” a lot easier.

PECS Board For Transitioning

Associating the pictures with real-life items can slowly evolve into helping them identify daily activities. For example, in the classroom, your child’s PECS board can include pictures of their different school subjects like art, math, and even recess. Transitioning from one activity to another will be easier when their teacher can show them with their board.

PECS Board For Communication

While the above methods promote communication, there are certain things your child may need or want that don’t involve making a choice or transitioning activities. For example, your PECS board for communication can include pictures of:

  • A toilet for them to indicate they need to use the bathroom.
  • A bed for when they want you to put them to bed.
  • The backyard to let you know they want to play outside.

The Effectiveness of a Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) Board on Communication Skills And Speech

Studies have shown that the PECS has positive effects on the development of communication skills and speech. For example, it has proven to help children learn to make requests with pictures and, although some fear this method will hinder speech, some begin to use intelligible speech by following instructions.

The advantages of using a PECS board include:

  • Since pictures are easy to use, parents and other family members don’t need special training.
  • Matching pictures with items allows for quick and easy communication.
  • The PECS method will enable you to begin creating a positive emotional history related to speech.
  • PECS is a progressive tool with endless possibilities so you can continue to add pictures to your child’s board

Help From Normal Life Inc.

Creating your own PECS board is just the beginning of the beautiful journey you’ll embark on helping your child learn to communicate. There are so many tools out there that will help your child develop many other skills as they grow older. If you want to purchase a pre-made PECS board on Amazon, check out the best PECS boards for children with autism.

Normal Life Inc. was founded to help families affected by autism and other intellectual disabilities. Our goal is to provide much-needed resources to help you understand what your child is going through. We also want you, as a parent, to feel a sense of community because you’re not alone.

 

How to Get a Child with Autism to Eat

Improving Mealtimes for Children on the Autism Spectrum

Helping children to eat a balanced meal is often difficult for many parents. Parents with children on the spectrum find that feeding their children nutritious meals is one of the biggest challenges and dinner time sounds like War War 3.

Some children limit what they eat to the extent that it could just be chicken nuggets.  This can result in the child experiencing severe nutritional deficiencies. This can lead to problems like aggression, weight loss, malnutrition, growth problems and often diabetes.

What can be done? If you find that mealtime is more of a battleground than a bonding time, then techniques this article you might want to consider.

Take Notes of the Areas where your child struggle

Make a comprehensive list of foods that your child absolutely will not eat. 

Try to document: They will not eat.

  • where you were.
  • the time of day.
  • how the food was presented.
  • what happened. (What was the reaction?)

This will help to spot and identify their eating patterns and what you can be changed. AT mealtime give the child a new food item introduced with an item they like. Give positive reinforcement for trying foods let them know one bit is enough. Just try.

Positive Reinforcements 

While you continue to serve them foods your children are familiar with, try introducing new foods along with these. They may have to work their way up to the new item but rewarding the behavior with positive reinforcement is strongly encouraged. Some children love verbal praise and some love edible praise. 

For example, if your child is struggling with broccoli but manages to take a few small bites, a piece of their favorite candy could be provided. A personal favorite in our household is using M&M’s as a reward.

Then we found out a group of children like to take shots. What I mean is that little medicine cap used to give children either their Benadryl or cough meds. They are great little shot glasses and I filled them up with Kool-Aid. This turned out to be the best in getting them to finish their meals. Cue words are, “take a bite, take a shot” This caught on and we slowly pulled back the shots and now they eat to get the natual reward of desert. 

The goal is to have the food in question become its own reinforcer. Once the child realizes that the unfamiliar food is good and it becomes familiar, they begin to enjoy it. 

Another variation of this could be during breakfast times. If your child enjoys waffles or pancakes for breakfast, continue to serve him these foods, but make it a point to add a bowl of fruit on the side. For each piece of fruit that is eaten, then they get a bite of waffles or pancakes. As they eat, be sure to commend and encourage them. This will take hands on parents, and it will require patients. However, it does work!

Modifying and Substituting Foods 

Many people in the autism community say’s it the textures, that’s why my child only eats chicken nuggets.  While we may simply find some textures unpleasant, these same textures could be impossible for your child to overcome. Remember to be flexible in this area of your food management. Sometimes, no matter how much you plead with them, some foods are best written off. 

With the number of foods, we have available, play around with different combinations. For example, if a typical Caesar salad is a definite no in your household, why not try a broccoli salad? If they don’t seem to like chicken, try swapping it out for catfish or salmon. 

Photo by August de Richelieu from Pexels

Play with food 

Chopped and moist foods seem to go over well with even the pickiest of eaters. Give mashed potatoes with ranch and bacon bits or cook a ham with a brown sugar glaze and why can’t we serve ranch or cheese over broccoli? Try to broaden their horizons.  

It may even be beneficial to try frozen foods. One mom found that frozen peas were a success in her household as a snack. Peas are small and can be eaten as finger food, making them fun to eat for children.

It may not be the flavor your child is averse to, only the fact that obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) comes with autism and sometimes they feel they have to chew their food forever before swallowing.  I suggest that you try chopping foods smaller with smaller portions or blending certain foods to change the texture they dislike. Or eliminate this completely by hiding it in something they already like. 

There are so many different ways to cook fruits and vegetables.  For example, if they dislike the squishiness of blueberries, offer smoothies instead or cook them into a compote that can be served along with a neutral food. 

Model the Desired Behavior 

We need to din together! When your child sits together with both parents and siblings at a dining table. This is the best model of behavior your child learns to imitate. 

Sit down, talk, ask how everyone’s day was and at a reasonable pace, finish the food on your plate. Shower them with praise when improvements are shown, everyone at the table can contribute. Use words like please pass the plate or thank you for getting me more milk. Be dramatic sometimes and say, “mm good! I love this chicken!” “it’s my favorite!” then ask the child what their favorite food is. Remember all children are sponges with autism or not.

Don’t Reinforce Bad Behavior 

This is the flip side of the previous tip. Many children on the spectrum struggle to communicate and may feel that throwing a tantrum is their best option. No matter how loud it gets, or how ruff it gets, let them walk away. Kids will not starve. However, they don’t get their reward either.

One of our children loved iPad. If he didn’t eat his dinner, then no iPad. 9 out of 10 times he comes back and eats dinner to get his iPad.  This is a long way from him taking a “Bite for a shot”.

Ignore the undesirable, such as throwing food or spitting. No eye contact mom! No surprise face when they dumb their food onto the ground. Just quietly pick up their plate with no eye contact and let them know in a calm voice, they need to leave the table if they are not going to eat. 

I am also a parent and I have had serval children come through my house and this program works. However, Its hard! We have support group on Facebook group at #autismarmy.   I want to let you know… It does get easier! And it does happen quickly. As soon as your child knows you mean business. Then it works. Thats why people always say start good eating habits when they are young. When they get bigger… believe me their tantrums become demolition destruction to your home. 

Encourage Communication Through Choices 

Children who struggle with verbalizing need tools to help with communicate their likes and dislikes. 

By using Pecs to show pictures of food you can have them plan out a meal to prepare. Always making sure they pick all 4 food groups. For example, they pick chicken nuggets, now have them pick the vegetable or a salad. Don’t forget to have them pick their reward after dinner either a cookie, ice-cream or popcorn. Parents need to stick to the program!  Please don’t give in and let the child have their reward before they finish their dinner. Once the child knows you mean business the tantrums will become fewer and fewer until dinner finally becomes that bonding time instead of War time.

Teaching sign language to your child can assist with them communicating their needs and wants. Sign Language is a great thing to teach all children as early as possible. It will enhance their abilities in communication and reduces their anxiety.   

 Visual charts are great!  Display what you’re having for dinner along with what time dinner will be served. By allocating your child a sense of control and letting them know what to expect, their mealtime anxiety is reduced.

To recap:

  • Make a list of foods you would like to implement 
  • Offer rewards to encourage eating (Positive Reinforcments)
  • Be opened to changing textures to make food more appealing 
  • Clearly model the desired behavior 
  • Reward good behavior and ignore less desirable behavior
  • Encourage them to communicate by providing choices 

The most important thing to remember as a parent be consistence, always be positive and keep it fun and you will succeed. 

Stop Autistic Kids From Getting Into Their Drawers!

Do you have trouble redirecting your child to not get into their drawers and empty them onto the floor every day?  If so then, this video and links are for you.

We have had kids even go into other children’s room to borrow clothes or empty out their dressers. Kids that also like to put on as many clothes as physically possible. As a parent this could become very exhausting.  The exhausting part is… It is daily! To add a little more drama, your child has incontinent, and you do not know if all the clothes he/she applied are still clean. So just to be safe you wash all of them. This consumes time and energy; wouldn’t it be nice if we could prevent this from completely happening?

Here is an easy quick way to adapt your child’s dresser to give your family a little more normalcy in life.

Our quick fix product can be found at Lowe’s.  “Tot Loks” by “Safety 1st”. Make sure before you install these locks, you unscrew or otherwise remove the handles that are already on your dresser. This makes it safe for your child when they do try to open their drawers.

The locks and key go for about $20.00. You can watch you-tube video here to see how easy they are to use. Please leave any ideas and comments on the video. We love hearing your insight.  Other locks could also be found on amazon. You can still purchase the Tot loks at Home Depot or Lows. Here is a link to Tot Loks on you-tube on how to apply to Cupboards 
https://youtu.be/axT902rPtpY