Summertime is almost here which for parents usually means planning their child's social schedule. But for parents of children with autism, that "social summer" scheduling requires even more planning.
Autistic children can regress and lose social understanding during the summer months if they're not engaged in activities.
Thursday morning on KARE 11 First Edition, Deb Schipper with West Metro Learning Connections discussed how to make summer outings fun and meaningful for children with Autism.
Schipper says kids with Autism don't pick up social skills on their own, they have to be taught directly and they must be guided along. If they're not, Schipper says they won't want to go onto new environments. It's important to make those new situations as comfortable and easy as possible.
Schipper says the first thing parents can do is plan ahead. Put your children in situations you know they'll succeed in. Second, make sure your child is prepared. Know all you can possibly know about where they're going and what they're doing.
Parents also need to be at the ready when they're on the outing, with both words and visual supports so if there is an issue they know what to do. According to Schipper, visual supports are very important because high anxiety situations for children with autism can lose their language. They need that visual to communicate.
For more information you can contact West Metro Learning Connections at 952-474-0227 or
Click here.
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