Autism Therapy You Can Do with Your Child at Home

 

Coronavirus has swept across the world, and everyone’s lives have been disrupted in some form or another. With health and government recommended, or even mandated, rules about how the general public should react in order to slow the spread of the virus, flash words used in the media including “quarantine”, “shelter-in-place”, “stay-at-home”, “essential/non-essential travel”, and “social distancing” have become common language over the past couple of months.

However, what does this mean for children with autism? Depending on where a child lies on the spectrum, how old they are, and whether or not there are other comorbid conditions (i.e. language processing disorders) to consider, these changes can prove to be devastating to their daily lives. Even typically-developing children are trying to cope with the new upheaval, so it should come as no surprise that children with autism will likely come with their own set of escalated challenges.

We consulted with an Occupational Therapist and gathered some useful information about what to expect and some autism respite therapy exercises, tips, and suggestions to help you while your child is at home. Of course, you should always check with your child’s therapist before starting anything new or if you have any concerns about your child’s behaviors and regression.

Potential Behavioral Issues to Expect

Parents. We all know… This will not be easy. As many of you have experienced, when your child’s routine takes an unpredictable turn there are usually inevitable behavioral consequences. “Quarantine” and “shelter-in-place” orders will vary depending in which country and state you reside, but you can expect changes that will directly alter your child’s schedule, including having therapy sessions canceled.

Physical Therapy Exercises for Autism

Exercise will now be limited to in-home or in-yard participation, save the occasional neighborhood walk. If you are unsure about what exercises to start with or what benefit they would provide your child, consult your child’s physical therapist. Some children with autism seek out exercises for many reasons: aerobics, endurance, emotional self-regulation, deep pressure and proprioceptive input, quick vestibular input, etc.

Speech Therapy

Practicing articulation, vocabulary, analogies, and sequencing can be crucial to keep your child’s speech therapy on track. Mommy Speech Therapy has some great resources and free downloads and you can find more free downloads from the US Department of Education. Sign language is also a great way to teach communication that often leads to an increase in the ability to communicate verbally. Teach your child new ASL words with this dictionary complete with videos.

Read more – Autism Therapy at Home