How to Encourage Independence in Children with Autism

By raluca.olariu@…, 11 November, 2022
kid brushing teeth

Many parents of children with autism have one concern: "Will my son or daughter live independently?" "Will they always require help?"

Parents need to start teaching their kids life skills as soon as they can and help them develop independent living skills from an early age.

What does a life skill mean?

Daily life skill refers to the set of everyday tasks which help us live our lives well. These include things like hygienic practices, personal care, managing finances, grocery shop­ping, transportation, and household chores.

Daily activities are an essential part of human existence. They're also something we do every day. From learning how to walk to learning how to drive a car, people develop these abilities throughout childhood and into adulthood. These daily routines apply to many aspects of our lives, including:  

  • Home living skills
  • Health and safety
  • Career path and employment
  • Self-determination
  • Leisure and recreation
  • Personal finance
  • Peer relationships and social communication  

How to teach life skills?

You can teach an individual with autism basic socialization and communication techniques, but each autistic individual is different. This makes teaching them at a consistent rate difficult. Some people with autism may be able to function independently, but others require constant supervision.

Many people with autism benefit from teaching them skills in their homes, schools, and communities. These classes take place in natural settings where the taught skills are related to the setting the person is used to or will be living in.

There are several approaches you can take when teaching life skills at home, often following a three-stage plan:

  • First, figure out which skills your child has and which ones she needs support for. Then, decide on the goals you want to achieve together.
  • To teach new skills, use visuals like graphs to provide them with support.
  • Lastly, provide opportunities to practice specific skills.  

What are some strategies for promoting independence in autistic children?

By helping children with autism develop independence, parents, and caregivers can reduce their own stress levels. And by teaching them skills that help them succeed later in life, these children can grow up into independent adults.

Early intervention will help children with ASD develop the skills needed to become independent adults. We will discuss some strategies for helping them learn these skills.

Start early

The sooner children learn how to dress themselves, clean themselves, and take care of their belongings, the easier it will be for them later in life. While they're still young, teach them to make decisions about what they wear, where they go, and who they spend their leisure hours with. When they get older, they'll appreciate having learned these skills early in life.

Enhance communication

Communication is a top priority for any parent in their quest to teach their children essential life skills. If your little ones struggle with speaking, you should find ways to help them express themselves. Tools such as social stories, visual supports, and signs can help your kids learn how to talk and make requests. Even if they aren't able to speak yet, they may understand what you're saying and respond appropriately. Teach your kids to say, "I'm hungry" or "It hurts." Help them learn their home address and phone numbers so they can tell someone where they live and contact an emergency service if needed.

Use a visual schedule

A visual schedule can make transitioning from one task to another easier for children with autism. They also allow them to learn about themselves and how they interact with others. By having a clear picture of what needs to happen each day, occupational therapists report that they were able to reduce the amount of prompting needed to get kids to complete tasks.

Visual timers also work well to assist children with autism spectrum disorder in keeping track of their tasks. 

Create leisure skills

Your kid needs to know how to take a breather. She must be capable of engaging in her own leisure and recreational pursuits. Most autistics have specific interests, which can help them translate into the right kind of activity. You'll be able to locate lots of things she can do, including sports teams, swimming classes, musical groups, martial arts, and so forth.

Furthermore, make sure your children know how to ask for a break when they're feeling overwhelmed. If your kids feel stressed out, offer them some calming music or noise-canceling headsets so they can relax.

Work on self-care skills

Brushing teeth, combing ­­­­­­­​­­­­­hair, using the toilet—are all essential self-care skills that should be introduced as early as possible. Introduce them gradually into your child's routine and offer support throughout the entire process.

After reaching a certain age, most parents assume that children know how to take good nutrition and exercise for themselves. However, autistic children often hide these developmental milestones, which means they require extra practice to learn them.

Teach them about money

Autistic children need to learn the value of using cash, checks, and debit cards so they can be financially secure in the future. They need to understand how to balance a checkbook and manage their accounts.

Regardless of whether your kid already knows how to handle his own finances or not, there are things you can do to help him learn. For instance, sit down together and make a budget. Then allow him to pay for things himself.

Ask for external help

Remember that you're not alone in this, so don't do it alone. Get your kids involved in activities they enjoy, and find out what kind of support services are available where you live. Check out online classes and workshops that can teach them valuable life lessons. Today, most public school systems offer occupational and speech therapy for children who need extra assistance learning these essential life-skilling abilities.

Use reinforcement

To help your child learn independent skills, you need to give him positive reinforcements for each step he takes toward independence. He may enjoy something special if he completes an activity successfully.

Have realistic expectations

It may be unrealistic to expect your child to learn something new quickly when they don't yet know how to do it. Have patience, and don't force your child to speed up the process if they don't feel comfortable.

You can also create achievable goals, whether they're short-term or long-term. For example, you can't encourage your child to practice completing a dressing routine without assistance.

Also, you should focus on one thing at a time. Breaking down the task into smaller parts makes it easier to remember.  

Conclusion

It's a difficult job, but it's important to avoid giving in to bad behavior. If your children are having trouble with a certain activity, they may exhibit some negative behavior to escape from doing the activity. Instead of ignoring their tantrums, they need to complete the activity instead.

You shouldn't be doing everything for your children. If they're having trouble with something, make sure you give them the right tools to succeed. Ensure they have plenty of chances to try again later.

Finally, keep in mind that patience and consistency are key. It may take some time before your child becomes independent, but he or she will grow up into a happy, healthy adult who lives a successful life.  

Photo credit: Unsplash.