Autism Therapy: parenting skills

definition of parenting skills: not yet defined.

No Factsheets to Display

Behavior Modification, by Singh, NN, Lancioni GE, Winton AS, Singh J., Curtis WJ, Wahler RG, and McAleavey KM, published in 2007, summarized Feb 1, 2008

Having a clear, calm, and focused mind (mindfulness) can help parents work with their children with autism.

This study tested whether mindfulness training can help parents help their children with autism. The study found decreased anger behavior in all four of the children in the study. The children also did a better job of playing with their siblings. Mothers were pleased with their parenting skills after mindfulness training. Parents and children all showed reduced stress after mindfulness training.


Marte Meo therapy is designed to help families with autism. This video-based therapy helps parents and caregivers communicate and support emotional development in children with autism. Marte Meo provides practical information and offers support and advice to increase family self-confidence and parenting skills. This article highlights program offerings at Ireland’s Dublin City University's University of Enterprise. The Marte Meo program was developed by Maria Aarts in 1987 as a way to make therapy information accessible to families, particularly in the area of early intervention. Marte Meo is now an international organization with tailor made therapy programs for different countries.

Read original article: Launch of HSE-Funded Report on Marte Meo


Hope-thru-Horses, in Lumber Bridge, NC, provides more than just talk therapy; Heather Wilkerson, LCSW, uses the interaction between humans and horses as psychotherapy. Wilkerson finds that children with autism may develop more assertiveness and better self-confidence than with talk therapy alone. "This is a cognitive behavior approach that is solution-focus oriented." In addition, she and the horses offer parenting skills and coping skills.

Read original article.



Please comment on this autism topic.

Children with autism have temper tantrum problems - also called a meltdown, when it happens, they throw themselves on the floor, crying, screaming and kicking as a means of getting across that things are "not right". Normal kids have temper tantrums too, but it's not so difficult to deal with as autistic children. Here's some tips for parents on how to tame "temper tantrum"-like behaviors of children with autism, which also work for normal kids.

1. Transfer the child's attention. When the child shows signs of a tantrum, try to attract his attention to something else that he would be interested in.

2. Ignore the tantrum. For a preschooler, ignore his tantrum but stay where he can see you; for a older child, tell him to return to his own room after he calms down.

3. Control yourself. Set a good example for your child, even in a tantrum, the child is learning from you.

4. Avoiding injury is the top priority during a meltdown. If the child starts to hurt himself or others, you must intervene and move the child to an safer place.

5. Describe the tantrum behavior to your child with "you lost control", not "you are too bad".

6. Find chances to give lavish praise for the appropriate behaviors. Once the child stops the tantrum, praise him for the next appropriate behavior.

7. You can comfort the child, but don't satisfy any unreasonable demands of them.

8. Avoid meltdowns in public places, people who don't know that your child is on autism spetrum will make presumptions about your parenting skills.

Hope these tips are helpful for controlling temper tantrums of autistic children.

Take care,

Sneh

My Favorite Links:
For discounted blood and labwork, MRI, etc: http://tinyurl.com/6fxdjm 

What not to eat: http://www.feingold.org/

Different alternative treatments [most comprehensive- pl. read carefully]: www.quickdoctors.com  

CST: http://www.iahp.com/pages/search/index.php
Neurofeedback Therapyhttp://www.neuropathways.com/index.html 

Yoga-Meditationhttp://www.divyayoga.com/freePranayamTraning.htm



Please comment on parenting skills or other autism therapy topics.

  • Factsheet
  • Research
  • News
  • Comments.
  • Share |