Category: Parents

Crafting can help your child with autism develop fine motor skills while simultaneously encouraging their self-expression and building self-confidence. In short, it’s a great way to support their growth toward their happiest, healthiest self. Plus, it can be fun for them and you.

For kids with autism, sensory crafts can be particularly enjoyable. You want to find craft projects that engage their senses. That includes sight, of course, but you might also want something they can feel (like Play-Doh) or smell (like scented markers). They may also really enjoy crafting with natural materials, like good-smelling flowers or highly textured pinecones.

Craft time is a chance to find out more about what your child likes while also encouraging their development. Since kids with autism thrive when they have structure, it can be helpful to set up a specific craft project for them. To get you started, here are a few ideas:

Finger Painting

You can make your own non-toxic finger paint with ingredients you probably already have on hand. And making the paint can be fun for your child with autism since it gives them the chance to mix their own colors.

Add some flour to a bowl, then add enough water to get a thick liquid — remember, you want to be able to paint with your fingers here. Then, grab some food coloring. Mix up a few different colors so your child has options.

Next, get a blank piece of paper or canvas. Your child may want to craft freely, but some kids benefit from more direction. You might encourage them to paint your family, a nature scene, or something you know they love (like dinosaurs or trains).

If your child with autism doesn’t like getting dirty, they can still get the sensory benefit of finger paint. Just put a pair of latex gloves on them before they get started.

Play-Doh Sculptures

Just like with finger painting, some kids with autism will dive straight into crafting but others will need some guidance. Think of things that would be relatively easy to mold out of Play-Doh, like your house or a truck. If your child enjoys sculpting simple items, you can encourage them to make more complex ones, like a sculpture of their sibling.

Engaging with the Play-Doh engages multiple senses at once while giving them a way to express their creativity in 3D form.

Art From Nature

Start with a walk around your neighborhood to gather supplies. This could be rocks, leaves, flowers, pinecones or needles, dirt, a found feather, or anything else you come across that catches your child’s eye.

Head home with your haul and give them some child-safe glue and a blank piece of paper. Let them arrange their found treasures into a piece of art, attaching them to the paper with glue. Not only does this give your child a chance for self-expression, but it can also help them look for beautiful objects when they’re out in the world. They may even start a collection to use in future art projects.

Crafting gives kids with autism the opportunity to learn skills while fostering their own creativity. That’s why we make it part of our days here at Stride Autism Centers®. If you’d like to learn more about our program for young kids with autism, contact us.

As soon as your child got their diagnosis — and potentially even before — you probably started modifying their environment. You made safety changes at home (like child-safety locks) and sensory adjustments, as well (like removing something overstimulating from their room).

But don’t stop there. For a child with autism, the right environment makes all the difference.

Children with autism, like all children, crave safety and consistency. An environment that feels comfortable and predictable sets them up for success.

Why environment matters

Think about a time when you’ve been overstressed, overtired, or otherwise overstimulated. That’s not how you want to head into an important event, right? Because their surroundings and the events of the day can be so much more stimulating to a child with autism than to a neurotypical person, it’s easy for them to get into that overstimulated state.

That does them no favors. In the same way that you’re not at your best when you’re overworked or overstressed, your child will struggle more if their environment requires too much of them.

Conversely, a secure environment in which activities are known and can be anticipated can bring them a huge measure of calm and security. From that place, they’re better able to respond to what happens around them.

The trick here is that you need to balance the predictability your child craves some level of stimulation. Without the latter, your child won’t grow or learn new skills. You want to help them have a sense of control while also encouraging their development.

Creating the right environment

Here at Stride Autism Centers®, we have extensive experience creating the right environment for kids with autism. We wanted to share some things that have worked well for us.

For starters, build a space that feels calm and safe. That means childproofing your home, of course, but it also might mean removing audio and visual stimulants. Keep your space at a comfortable temperature and consider eliminating things like lights that flicker or fans that hum.

A safe, calm environment gives you a good blank canvas from which to build. Next, focus on creating structure. Rules and expectations should be clearly laid out (you might want to create a visual guide). Routines should be established, communicated, and posted in a way your child can see. A schedule or a list of pictures (if they can’t read yet) can help them anticipate what’s coming. Having a set routine gives them a sense of control because they know what to expect and can ready themselves for it.

Finally, from that place of safety and calm where rules and routines are established, you can look for ways to provide the right level of stimulation. That could be a once-weekly trip to the grocery store or a specific type of playtime on special days. From the established routine, you can build to give your child opportunities to develop skills and explore their world.

To give you an idea of what’s been successful for children with autism, we’ll share that we have four specific environments we provide at Stride:

• Individualized instruction space where the child engages one-on-one with their therapist in a room with few distractions
• A free play/natural environment space where kids can engage in play-based activities like art, blocks, and toys
• Playgrounds where they play and climb on sensory stimulating environmental elements like slides, swings, mini trampolines, and tunnels
• Circle time areas where we gather in a seated circle with other children to go over the day’s routine

Each environment is tailored to keep them safe and provide a sense of calm while encouraging learning and play. As you tailor your in-home environment to your child with autism, we can come alongside you to provide the right environment for their therapy and group skill development.

To learn more, contact us.

One of the core deficits with autism is social skills. Individuals generally possess a desire to interact with those around them — but often do not know how to begin. This can lead to confusion, frustration, and other emotions.

Fortunately, this presents an opportunity. By understanding how autism affects social development and social skills, the individual and their support community can work to fill in gaps. As they build awareness and aptitude around socializing, the person with autism gains confidence. This can help to foster better social engagement, putting them on the path to building stronger social skills.

Autism and socialization

None of us are born fully understanding how to interact with the people around us. That’s something we learn over time. We are taught how to take turns and we pick up the natural flow of conversation through the years. The difference is that this might come more quickly and easily for a neurotypical person than for someone with autism.

That’s because autism can affect:

• Verbal skills and expressing oneself effectively
• Communicating one’s wants and needs
• Rapport building with others
• Perspective taking (i.e., putting yourself in someone else’s shoes)
• The ability to pick up on social cues
• Sensory perception (e.g., awareness of body language)
• Ability to understand situational context

While a neurotypical person might not think much about some of these things, they all play large roles in social situations. They help you anticipate what’s to come and react “appropriately.” Consequently, someone with autism might feel as though they’re flying blind in social settings.

Developing skills

Fortunately, both at home and in a dedicated learning space like Stride Autism Centers®, children with autism have the opportunity to develop the social skills they may have had trouble building before. As the adage goes, practice makes perfect.

At home, start by building on their strengths in a way that’s comfortable for them. Engage in conversation — encouraging a back-and-forth and listening — about a topic you know interests them. Play a game you know they enjoy, but emphasize turn-taking. By fostering social skills in a platform that’s comfortable for your child, you can help them build these abilities without feeling overwhelmed.

Also, look for teachable moments. Generally, it can be helpful for someone with autism to have abstract concepts broken down into concrete components. “Body language” can be hard to grasp. Instead, say something clear like, “When you play with something else and look away when I’m talking, I feel like you’re not listening to me.”

The goal here is to build your child’s self-esteem along with their self-awareness. So start small and work your way up, providing encouragement and clear direction along the way.

We’re here to help. We emphasize effective play and social skills at our centers. At Stride, we give children opportunities to interact with their peers in a structured, supportive environment. With our naturalistic group activities, we support their development and foster school readiness.

If you want to learn more about how we can help your child build the social skills they need, get in touch.

When one of your children gets diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), it can feel like your focus narrows. From that point on, a lot of your attention goes toward helping that child navigate the unique path in front of them.

If you have other children, you may feel tension in trying to support both children equally despite one child requiring additional help. While your child on the spectrum does need attention and care, so do your other children.

Your neurotypical child probably has questions about their sibling. Therefore, you have the opportunity to explain autism to your other children. And the way you explain your child’s disorder will likely shape the way they see and interact with their sibling. Here are five tips that can help.

Find a Common Vocabulary

ASD is a highly complex and heterogenous disorder, so even adults can have a difficult time understanding it. That doesn’t mean you should ignore addressing it with their siblings. Doing so could leave them confused.

Instead, learn to talk about autism in ways they can understand. To do this, start by asking questions like, “Have you noticed that your sibling plays differently than you?” or “Have you heard of autism? What do you know about it?”

To help your child talk openly about what they notice in their sibling, you might ask about things they do that may be different from their peers, including behaviors, play styles, and communication.

It’s not important that your child walks away with a technically correct definition of ASD. Instead, what matters is that they have the words to talk with you about what they notice in their sibling.

Create a Safe Space for Them to Ask Questions

You should continually remind all of your children that they can ask you questions. You might have a conversation with one of your kids about their sibling’s ASD, but your child might not be ready to dig into the details at that point. Give them time to ponder and process, then check back in periodically to see if they have anything they want to talk about.

In fact, it can help to schedule one-on-one time with your typically developing child or children. This can remind them that you love them just as much as their sibling with ASD even though they may get less attention. Just as importantly, it gives them an opportunity to talk with you and ask any questions they may have.

Let Them Feel Their Feelings

Especially early after your child’s diagnosis, their siblings might feel confused, frustrated, or resentful. Their home life is likely shifting as your family works to support your child with autism.

It’s okay for kids to feel those feelings. Letting them know that you might feel frustrated or sad sometimes, too, can help them emotionally regulate during what might be a difficult time.

Help Them Celebrate Their Sibling

Like all other individuals, each child with autism is unique and may have specialized skills or interests and a different way of interacting with the world around them.

Help your neurotypical siblings appreciate those special characteristics in your child with ASD. Not only can this help them to be a more empathetic, well-adjusted sibling. Also, it can help them be kinder to everyone they encounter.

Talk to Other Parents and Experts

You’re not in this alone. Every family dynamic is unique, but rest assured that other parents have traveled in your footsteps. Find families with kids on the spectrum and don’t be afraid to ask the parents what’s worked for them.

You can also talk to our team. At Stride Autism Centers®, our ASD experts can help you plan not only the best program for your child on the spectrum, but also for your whole family. Get started today.

How Group Activities Work in an Autism Therapy Setting

As a parent of a child with autism, you might be skeptical about group sessions. You may have watched your child struggle on the playground or worried about them getting along with their peers.

Within these tailored group sessions, we give kids the chance to explore their innate creativity and work on their social skills at the same time. Many children with autism benefit from observational learning from their peers and a supportive, safe environment where they can work on following group instructions.

Tailoring Group Play to Your Child

All this said, we know that different children have different needs and comfort levels. When your preschooler gets put in a group situation, it’s important that the therapist works flexibly with them.

For example, at Stride Autism Centers®, we meet our learners where they’re at. Some kids love working on a multi-step art project alongside their peers, while others want to forge their own art exploration path. We might set those kids up with art and sensory materials like paint, water beads, or beans.

Again, we know that children learn best when they’re having fun, and we know fun looks differently for different children. We always return to that core value when we’re planning group activities for each individual child.

Some examples of group activities for preschoolers with autism

Let’s give you some solid examples of what group play might look like for your child. At Stride Autism Centers®, our group learning sessions vary throughout the day, but they generally include:

• • Art: At Stride, children have opportunities to explore using different materials to express themselves creatively, like paint, drawing implements, and glue. This isn’t just a great opportunity to practice working with different school supplies. It’s also a chance to work on following directions, completing a task, and writing/identifying their name. Our art projects give learners a rough outline (e.g., “make a snowman”) while allowing them to individualize what they create. At the same time, we weave in developmentally appropriate goals, like matching, identifying colors, differentiating textures, and following steps.

• • Music: With Stride, children will learn “Hello” and “Goodbye” songs. If they want to, we also give them the chance to interact with different toys and musical instruments to work on rhythm and imitation skills. Music gives early learners the opportunity to practice greetings, learn names, and tap into clear cues that the day is beginning and ending.

• • Dance and play: To music, we dance together to give kids an encouraging space in which to practice learning routines and following directions. These dance and play sessions also allow children to practice imitation skills, which play a key role in learning.

• • Spirit days: Periodically, we host fun (but completely optional) dress-up days, like hat day, dress-as-your-favorite-superhero day, or mismatch day. These help us build a sense of community and belonging for our preschool learners and our staff. Our spirit days give children the opportunity to flex their creativity and step a little bit outside their comfort zones, too.

Additionally, we integrate other group activities like:

• • Sensory play
  • Group games (e.g., freeze dance, Simon says, duck duck goose)
  • Snack time and lunch
  • Circle time for counting, names, calendar skills, and more

Group activities can help preschoolers with autism learn key skills and feel more comfortable socially, all without pushing them too far or putting them on edge. If you want to learn more about what group activities could look like for your unique child, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our team.

In the United States, the average age of a child diagnosed with autism is over 4 years old. While that may seem young, that average is actually far older than experts say is ideal. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that autism can be reliably diagnosed as early as 18 months. Identifying this disorder early matters because the sooner parents and guardians can begin autism treatment for their child, the better the outcomes for the child and the family.

As the medical community learns more about autism, parents have increasing opportunities to learn the key indicators of this disorder. Today, we know clues that arise as early as a child’s first birthday.

To a large extent, these early signals center around communication. While communication delays do not always indicate autism, parents should be informed about what to watch for in their young children.

Communication at 12 to 18 Months

By their 18-month mark, most children have developed a small vocabulary. Because children develop at different rates, however, this is not always true.

That said, parents should observe how their sons and daughters attempt to interact with them. Neurotypical children with limited to no vocabulary at 18 months may use hand signals or other gestures to communicate with their parents. They may seek out eye contact or point and grab, for example. Children with autism, however, usually exhibit little to no effort to communicate with the people around them.

Similarly, children with autism generally do not respond to attempts to communicate with them. Neurotypical children will learn their names and turn their heads to the sound when called, for example, while a child with autism generally will not. If you have ever wondered if your child has hearing problems, it could potentially be communication barriers presented by autism, not their ears, at the heart of the issue.

Other Communication Clues That Can Signal Autism

As they get older and begin communicating more, many children with autism display specific communication styles. As a parent, you should be on the lookout for:

• Trouble with conversation. If you notice that your child seems to be particularly challenged to follow a conversation or continually redirects back to a limited set of topics, it could be indicative of autism. Notice if your child seems to have difficulty responding to open-ended questions or following along with new topics.

• Echolalia. Many parents first notice that their child may be living with autism because the child repeats phrases back to them, potentially even in the same tone of voice. This echoing of things exactly as they hear it is called echolalia. Echolalia can also cause children to continuously use phrases from movies, books, shows, and songs.

• Limited engagement. Neurotypical children are generally very quick to point out — oftentimes literally — things that catch their interest. It is not uncommon to see a neurotypical child gesturing excitedly or dragging a parent over to see something that caught their eye. Children with autism, on the other hand, are generally slower to share their excitement. If you notice that your daughter or son rarely shows things to you, monitor their communication to determine if you should talk to a doctor.

Diagnosing Young Children With Autism

Far too many parents delay bringing their children to a doctor even when they have a hunch something may be atypical because they fear bad news. However, the sooner you support your child with the care they need, the more likely they are to be able to enjoy a happy, productive life. This is true with any health condition or disorder, including autism.

If the communication clues we just outlined sound familiar to you, trust your instincts. Talk with your family doctor and advocate for your child to get further care as needed. Seeking out the right support for their development makes all the difference as they grow up.

If you want to talk to a team of experts who specialize in caring for children with autism, contact our team at Stride Autism Centers® today.

When you have a child with autism, finding the most effective treatment possible often becomes your highest priority. While many treatment approaches are available, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) has been extensively evaluated over decades of clinical research and is considered to be the gold standard.

Endorsed by the U.S. Surgeon General and prominent American medical associations, this treatment for autism draws on fundamental principles of learning to help children with autism develop critical skills. At the same time, ABA supports the child’s independence while addressing challenging behavior patterns.

Once you determine that ABA is for your child, you naturally look for the best ABA therapist. These three guidelines can help you identify the best candidate to meet your child’s unique needs and support your family.

1. Find a Therapist with a Strong Background & Thoughtful Treatment Plan

Not all ABA therapists have the same level of expertise. While some ABA therapists are Behavior Technicians (BTs) and Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs), only Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) are required to hold a Ph.D. or master’s degree. BCBAs must also pass the certification examination. These board-certified therapists oversee BTs and RBTs.

By choosing a treatment program led by a BCBA for your child, you connect your child with an experienced, knowledgeable individual who is passionate enough to have invested years into earning their certification and degrees. They have the expertise and compassion necessary to create a tailored treatment plan that drives meaningful outcomes for your child.

That being said, education and experience alone do not guarantee the right care for your child. Because there is no one-size-fits-all ABA treatment strategy, you need a therapist willing to develop a comprehensive and personalized treatment plan. As each child with autism has unique needs and challenges, you should seek to find an ABA therapist committed to individualizing the treatment plan for optimal results.

Ultimately, an ideal ABA therapist is one that has the requisite education and experience to pinpoint areas for improvement, paired with the willingness to craft the treatment plan to address those particular areas for your child.

2. Find a Therapist Who Makes Your Child Feel Comfortable

In the search for an ABA therapist, it’s also important to find someone whose personality and demeanor mesh well with that of your child.

ABA therapy, as with any type of autism treatment, is most effective when a strong rapport is built between the therapist and client. Additionally, the best learning takes place in fun and exciting environments. While it may take some time for a strong relationship to form, it is essential that children eventually open up and become receptive to what the therapist is trying to accomplish.

The right ABA therapist will have the skills and patience necessary to build a bond of trust with your daughter or son. Capable ABA therapists working with young children should demonstrate that they can keep sessions enjoyable for the child even as they work on critical skills in challenging areas.

3. Find a Therapist That Coordinates Their Efforts Well with You

ABA therapy tends to be most successful when parents both participate and “buy-into” the treatment plan.

Parents should be on the same page as the ABA therapist so that they know what to do — and not do — to support the therapeutic approach when the child is at home or otherwise not in session. Optimizing the effectiveness of ABA requires consistency. Therefore, parents should consider aligning their approach at home with the approach at the clinic.

That requires an open line of communication and a foundation of understanding between you and your child’s therapist. The better you and the therapist can coordinate your efforts, the more you improve the likelihood of positive outcomes.

Ultimately, you should work to find a therapist with whom you can interact and communicate easily. Your child’s treatment program will be more successful — and easier to integrate into your home life — if you have confidence in the therapist and the plan they’re building for your son or daughter.

Stride Employs Qualified ABA Therapists to Help Preschool-Age Children with Autism

With locations in Illinois, Iowa, and Nebraska, Stride Autism Centers® is dedicated to delivering truly meaningful outcomes for children with autism ages 2 to 6 — and their families. We have full-day ABA programs that combine individual therapy with structured group activities.

Each child enrolled at Stride has a highly personalized treatment plan that is carefully developed by our BCBAs and guided by a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. Our BCBAs manage all aspects of your child’s treatment, and we maintain a strict 1:1 therapist-to-child ratio.

If you’re interested in finding out more about our experienced, dedicated ABA therapists and our full-day program, please give us a call at 515-207-5251 (Iowa & Nebraska) or 312-554-5578 (Illinois). You can also get started by filling out our website contact form.

A Stride representative will then be in touch as soon as possible to discuss your family’s needs. We look forward to speaking with you and helping your child take their best stride forward.