Parents of autistic children often face a lot of challenges. Not only do they have to raise their child, but they also have to figure out how to best help them overcome the obstacles that come with autism. Many parents of autistic children have to put in a lot of effort and time to help their kids. That is because autism makes it difficult for children to communicate or do anything on their own. An autism robot called Kebbi was designed to help with that, as it eliminates many tasks like teaching children how to sing, how talk, and much more. The robot also teaches them about behavior standards and promotes positive interactions with others. This article will discuss six common problems parents may face and what you can do about them.
Fecal smearing
One of the most common problems parents of autistic children face is fecal smearing. This occurs when the child takes their feces and spreads it all over their body or around their living space. In this case, you may want to take the time to explore online sources and support groups for you to have an idea of how best to deal with fecal smearing. Otherwise, to best help your child, you can also consider consulting with a doctor or therapist for additional support and guidance.
Nevertheless, there are a few things you can do to help prevent this from happening. First, make sure your child has plenty of opportunities to use the bathroom throughout the day. Second, provide them with ample time to process their emotions. Third, keep them away from situations that may cause anxiety or stress. All of these are geared towards ensuring that their bowel movements are normal.
Frequent crying
Another common problem parents of autistic children face is frequent crying. If you find that your child is constantly in tears, it may be because they have been trying their best to express themselves but are not being understood by those around them. In this case, you can help others understand your child by learning more about autism and how to best communicate with someone who has it. You can also try using visual aids or picture cards to help your child express himself for him to be better understood.
In addition to this, there are other things you can do to help reduce the amount of crying your child does. First, make sure you give your child plenty of time and space to process his emotions. Second, make sure they have an outlet for their frustration such as a punching bag or pillow. Third, avoid situations that may cause anxiety or stress in the future since these can trigger crying spells from your child.
Blanket/air-fluffing
Parents of autistic children can also face blanket fluffing and other behaviors related to it. This behavior involves the child inserting blankets inside a pillowcase, shaking vigorously until feathers come out, and then using the feathers to cover their body. It can also involve scattering feathers all around the house. In some cases, this behavior may be a way for the child to calm down or self-soothe. If this is the case, you can try to provide them with other calming activities such as listening to soft music, lying down with a weighted blanket, watching TV, or taking a walk. You can also consider getting them involved in activities that they are good at to help boost their self-esteem and confidence.
On the other hand, if this is not something your child does for themselves, there are still things you can do for him/her. For instance, try making sure he/she has enough sensory input. This can be done by providing them with different textures to feel, giving them a massage, or letting them jump on a trampoline. Additionally, make sure you set rules for your child and enforce them consistently. This will help him/her know what is expected of him/her and reduce the chances of feather fluffing behavior.
Snapping/grinding his teeth
Another common problem parents of autistic children face is their children snapping or grinding their teeth. This can be done out of anxiety and stress, which means that more than likely it will occur during certain situations such as when your child is placed in a new environment. If this happens to your child, try to remain calm and understanding. If possible, try to remove them from the situation until they have calmed down.
In addition, you can also help your child deal with his anxiety in other ways. First, make sure he has a routine that he can follow so that he knows what is going to happen each day. Second, provide him with plenty of sensory input by having him play with different textures or giving him a massage. Lastly, help your child learn how to cope by teaching them exercises that can calm their body down such as deep breathing and stretching.
Biting other people
Parents of autistic children may also face biting behavior in their children. This may be an attempt by the child to communicate their feelings or get what they want. If this is the case, you can try to find out what it is your child wants and help him learn other ways of communicating his needs. In parallel to this, there are other things you can do to help prevent biting behavior from happening. First, make sure you are providing enough positive reinforcement when your child does not bite. Second, set rules for your child and enforce them consistently. This will help him know what is expected of him. Finally, provide your child with plenty of activities that he enjoys to keep him busy and distracted from biting others.
Self-injurious behavior
Finally, parents of autistic children may face the problem of having their child engage in self-injurious behavior. This can include head-banging, biting oneself, or pulling out hair. Like with other behaviors, self-injurious behavior can be an attempt by the child to communicate something or release anger and frustration. If this is the case, you need to try and find out what it is your child wants to communicate and help him find other ways of doing so.
These are just a few of the problems that parents of autistic children may face. In conclusion, make sure you give your child sufficient time and space to process their emotions, provide them with an outlet for their frustration, avoid situations that may cause anxiety or stress in the future, leave him/her enough sensory input to keep his senses satisfied and try your best not to get angry or frustrated when these issues happen. The above-mentioned tips will help you deal with the common problems that parents of autistic children face. Of course, if any issue persists for a long period and continues to affect your family life negatively you should consult a professional who can help you and your child overcome the problem.
