Did you know this about autism? # 8
It is okay to tell your child with autism “NO.” There are times, just like with raising typical children that it is necessary and appropriate to correct, discipline, educate, train, restrain, regulate, and control the actions of your child. YOU need to love them enough to do so!
Autism is a life-long condition but even, in the worst case scenerios, people with autism can be trained and educated to either do or not do certain behaviors in life. As a professional, I find way, way, too often that parents and caregivers are afraid to tell the children “no.” There are certain behaviors that are not nor ever will be accepted. Of course, children with autism need to be redirected, and when possible, they need to reauditorize and reverbalize not only the “no” command itself but the “why” of it. It will be more redundant and more dramatic than with typical children but “no” needs to be a part of YOUR vocabulary when dealing with your child with autism. It’s okay to use “NO.” You have my permission.
As a professional, I am seeing two extremes when dealing with the autistic population today. What are we doing to these children? We’re treating them like they are either Humpty Dumpty’s in egg shells that are fragile to the touch or like the Tin Man who needs oil every now and then and a push in the right direction.
I know this about discipline and being firm with children, regardless of autism or not, and I KNOW that you feel the same way that I do ~ I love my child enough to let him/her hate me for a little while. That, my friends, is the truest of love and no one ever said that it would be easy.
Tags: ASD, Autism, disability, Education, Parenting, Speech/Language Therapy
