Building self-esteem

Building self-esteem

Autistic children, some of them poorly or non-verbal,
often struggle to accomplish tasks of daily life that
are easy for other children.

While they may not show it in the same ways as other
children, children with autism struggle with self
esteem issues as much or more than kids without autism.

It’s just as important to build an autistic child’s
self esteem as it is with other kids.

Children with autism often don’t respond to things
like verbal praise or hugs but they can build self
esteem in other ways.

One way to build self esteem is to use a sticker system.

Use a board that lists your child’s tasks like brushing
one’s teeth, dressing, eating meals and help your child
put sticker son the board whenever he or she is successful
in completing a task.

Another way to build self-esteem is to use a reward system
that involves being able to do a preferred activity when
the child is successful at something.

It could be reading a preferred book or doing a preferred
activity.

This works best when the child can link a successful task
to the reward system.

Even though autistic children don’t often respond to the
same kinds of praise as other children, giving praise is
a natural thing for parents to do.

Praise, when given as part of the completion of a task,
may still increase self esteem if it comes from a familiar
person who they have come to trust.

It becomes not the praise itself but the person from whom
it comes that is the reward.

Children with autism don’t look like they need self esteem
at times but, in fact, they do.

Parents need to find ways to teach their child that he or
she is successful at what they do.

These are the things that will increase their self esteem
and help them further their life goals on that basis.

The Parenting Autism Resource Guide: A Complete Resource Guide For Parents Who Have Children Diagnosed With Autism.