Sunday, August 10, 2008

How to Teach Children With Mild Autism by Echo Armman

kids with autismHere's some tips on teaching autistic children:

1. First of all, you need to know that every child with autism is different, you have to find out their likes, dislikes, strengths and weaknesses. Let the child guide you at first. Start with what the child can do and build on what the child can not do. Tie the subject you are teaching to the child's interests as often as possible.

2. Children with autism have difficulty in using language, they tend to be visual learners and auditory learners. You can use PEC cards, flash cards, letter tiles and social stories for teaching visual learners. Auditory learners work best with audio tapes, cds, videos, lectures, communication devices and music. Here's an article about how to make flashcards for autitic children.

3. It's important to follow the schedule strictly, because a break in the daily schedule of autistic children will seriously ruin their day.

4. Do a multisensory approach. Work on patterns, use colored blocks and string patterns ect.

students with autism5. Music has been proven to help kids with autism learn.

6. You need to have lots of patience, speak slowly and clearly and if the child does not answer or respond then say it again in a different way until he does. Build up to new things a little at a time, until you build up to him mastering the behavior. Be repetitive.

7. There is some books that helps parents: Great Ideas for Teaching or Raising Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders; Ten Things Your Student With Autism Wishes You Knew & Ten Things Every Child With Autism Wishes You Knew by award winning author Ellen Notbohm.

8. Make learning fun by giving lots of praise when the child is doing well.

9. Get some help either by a regional center or your local school district, that can refer your kid for some services.

10. Learn about Sensory Issues. Sensory issues are one of the biggest problems in autistic children.

Hope this is helpful!

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