***You Had Me At Hello……Tips for Effective Communication When Your Child Has Autism

Everyone knows that one of the telltale signs of autism is an inability to communicate effectively with others. A lot of our kids have trouble processing incoming information in a timely manner which results in frustration for them and us.

Can you imagine what that must be like?

Just try and imagine how it would feel if lights, sounds, temperatures, fabrics, smells and tastes all came at you at once, all the time. Imagine what it would be like if the simple filters in your brain that most of us take for granted simply did not work well. No wonder our kiddos are either spaced out or screaming a lot of the time.

So what can a parent do to help ensure effective communication with their child on the spectrum?

Well, I’m certainly not a licensed therapist, but I can tell you what has worked for me over the years with my son. Maybe some of my ideas will work for you too.

1. Engage your child in the car. I started early on playing games with my son in the car. As he was learning his colors, I made sure to point out different colors along the road whether it was a yellow stripe on the road, a red stop sign or an orange car. Then I would challenge him to find those same things. It’s a great way to pass the time and help your child at the same time.

2. When I was trying to gain eye contact from my son, I used RDI therapy principles to get him to look at my face. If he wanted a crayon, I would hold the crayon up in front of my face. When he wanted to see a picture of something, I would hold it up to my face. Sometimes I would close my eyes when he expected them to be open. Try and think up creative ways to surprise and entertain your child. This really worked well for me.

3. One of the great things my father does with my son is to intentionally say something the wrong way, just to see if my son is paying attention. If my son has been talking about his friend Anna at school, my father will say something intentionally using the wrong name. For example, he might say, “So you and Mary Lou were on the playground?” My son will object and correct my father, and then a few minutes later, my Dad does it again. It’s a game they love to play now and it always results in lots of hugs, giggles and laughter.

Learning to communicate with your child is one of the most important things you can do. It’s hard work, but so worth the time and effort. Before long, hopefully your child will be as interested in you as you are in him. Keep it real; keep it fresh; and most of all, keep it fun!