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Showing posts from June, 2015

Setting Effective Boundaries with Children on the Autism Spectrum

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“I have a 6-year-old daughter, Kayla, with HFA. My husband and I are having a terrible time knowing when to set limits with her. She is often critical of herself (and me) …is a very sensitive child …it doesn’t take much to get her very upset and then she becomes aggressive. Sometimes I feel I’m being too hard on her and damaging her self-esteem. But other times I feel I’m not being tough enough which is spoiling her. How do I walk the fine line between too much punishment and not enough?” Being empathetic doesn't mean always giving your high functioning autistic daughter what she wants. But when she is being refused another handful of candy, or disciplined for pushing her brother, or trying to scratch you, the limit-setting needs to be done in a firm, but very gentle, manner. Gentle boundaries coupled with empathy and flexibility will gradually help your “sensitive” daughter be less critical of you and herself. Expand your daughter's dialogue about what comforts and

How to Eliminate Oppositional Behavior in Kids with Asperger's and High-Functioning Autism

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This technique for oppositional kids on the autism spectrum is ultimately the most important! Resources for parents of children and teens on the autism spectrum :   ==>  How to Prevent Meltdowns and Tantrums in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder ==>  Parenting System that Reduces Defiant Behavior in Teens with Autism Spectrum Disorder ==>  Launching Adult Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Guide for Parents Who Want to Promote Self-Reliance ==>  Teaching Social-Skills and Emotion-Management to Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder ==>  Parenting Children and Teens with High-Functioning Autism: Parents' Comprehensive Handbook ==>  Unraveling the Mystery Behind High-Functioning Autism: Audio Book ==>  Crucial  Research-Based  Parenting Strategies for Children and Teens with High-Functioning Autism  

Parents' "Compliance Strategies" for Uncooperative Kids on the Autism Spectrum

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“Do you have any tricks for getting my very uncooperative (high functioning autistic) son to comply with requests? Even simple ones, like taking one minute to put his dirty clothes in the hamper, initiate a power struggle. This usually results in me doing the task myself just to keep things from escalating into a tantrum or meltdown. Help!” You're in luck. There are a lot of “compliance strategies” that often work quite well with uncooperative kids on the autism spectrum. Here are just a few to get you started: 1. Keep it simple. Try asking your son to do three simple requests first. Request can be things such as asking what time it is, what day it is, to hand you an object he is sitting near, or to tell you something fun he did that day, etc.  Then make your fourth request the more complicated one you were originally hoping to get your son to do (e.g., picking up his dirty clothes). Uncooperative children are more likely to comply with a more difficult request after su

Help for Oppositional Behavior in Children on the Autism Spectrum

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Video discusses the use of picture and written schedules as a method for dealing with oppositional behavior in children with Asperger's and High-Functioning Autism: More resources for parents of children and teens with High-Functioning Autism and Asperger's : ==> How To Prevent Meltdowns and Tantrums In Children With High-Functioning Autism and Asperger's ==> Parenting System that Significantly Reduces Defiant Behavior in Teens with Aspergers and High-Functioning Autism ==> Launching Adult Children with Asperger's and High-Functioning Autism: Guide for Parents Who Want to Promote Self-Reliance ==> Teaching Social Skills and Emotion Management to Children and Teens with Asperger's and High-Functioning Autism ==> Parenting Children and Teens with High-Functioning Autism: Comprehensive Handbook ==> Unraveling The Mystery Behind Asperger's and High-Functioning Autism: Audio Book ==> Parenting System that Reduces Problemati

A Special Message to Teens on the Autism Spectrum

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There is a philosophy among some individuals in the autism community that people on the autism spectrum are living their lives on the “wrong planet.” But, this way of thinking favors a flaw-based focus , which is the exact opposite of what we want to achieve. Each of us has a special purpose on this planet. The universe has a plan for you too, and your job is to get in alignment with this plan. So, be encouraged, you are indeed on the right planet. You belong here. You are in this life for a reason. As a teenager on the autism spectrum, you have areas of strength and areas of challenge. The good news about Asperger's and High-Functioning Autism is that the individual with this condition possesses many more strengths than weaknesses. As an added bonus, when you capitalize on your strengths, many of your weaknesses become manageable – and some correct themselves by default. You need to begin to reverse the belief of having to focus your development around overcoming your

Educational Videos and Podcasts: Asperger's and High-Functioning Autism

In this post, I decided to provide a compilation of educational videos and podcasts for parents, teachers and others that will facilitate a deeper understanding of children and teens with Asperger Syndrome, High-Functioning Autism and other Autism Spectrum Disorders. Videos— ·        8 Important Facts About Children With Aspergers and High Functioning Autism ·        A film made by young people with Aspergers Syndrome... ·        Adult Children with Aspergers and Their Over-Protective Parents ·        All About Aspergers and High-Functioning Autism with Mark Hutten, M.A. ·        All About Autism: Questions and Answers with Mark Hutten, M.A. ·        An Aspergers Teenager Talks His Experience ·        Anger-Control Problems in Aspergers Children and Teens ·        Anxiety-Reduction Strategies for Asperger's and HFA ·        Are there medications that can treat or cure Asperger's? ·        Asperger Syndrome: A Form of Schizophrenia? ·        Asper