My ASD Child

Technology has become one of the defining features of teenage life. For autistic adolescents, screens, games, and online communities often carry even deeper significance. A video game may be more than just entertainment—it may be a structured world with clear rules that feels safer than unpredictable social interactions. Online platforms may be the first places where an autistic teen finds like‑minded friends who share their passions. But parents often feel caught between appreciation and alarm. Hours spent gaming can crowd out family time, homework, or sleep. Online risks, including cyberbullying or unsafe interactions, raise valid concerns. Parents may worry: “Is my child addicted to gaming? Or is this their way of coping and connecting?” This chapter explores how parents can understand their teen’s relationship with technology, set compassionate boundaries, and transform screens from a source of conflict into an opportunity for growth. Why Technology Holds Such Appeal for Autist...

Parenting any teenager comes with emotional ups and downs. But for parents of autistic teens, emotional outbursts and meltdowns can feel particularly intense, unpredictable, and exhausting. What may look like “overreaction” is often the visible tip of an iceberg—weeks of accumulated stress, sensory overload, or the fatigue of constant social effort. This chapter explores how to understand the roots of meltdowns, respond with compassion, and build preventive systems that reduce escalation. Parents cannot eliminate meltdowns entirely, but they can transform how their family experiences them. Understanding Emotional Outbursts in Autistic Teens Meltdown vs. tantrum: A tantrum is usually driven by a goal (to get something). A meltdown is a nervous system overload where self‑control is lost. Shutdowns: The quieter cousin of meltdowns—teens may withdraw, go non‑verbal, or seem “frozen.” Triggers: Common causes include sensory overload, unexpected changes, prolonged social mask...

Adolescence is a time of stretching boundaries, testing independence, and seeking identity. For autistic teenagers, these years can carry additional risks because of differences in social understanding, sensory processing, and communication. Parents often find themselves caught between wanting to protect their teen and needing to grant them more autonomy. This chapter‑style article explores risky behaviors and safety for autistic teens—how to recognize them, why they happen, and what parents can do to build protective systems while preserving trust. Why Risk Looks Different in Autistic Teens Autistic teens may engage in risky behaviors for reasons distinct from their neurotypical peers: Sensory seeking or avoidance: Running into the street, climbing, or touching dangerous objects can stem from sensory needs rather than thrill‑seeking. Literal thinking: Difficulty reading hidden dangers, sarcasm, or manipulative intentions in others. Social vulnerability: More likely to ...

Helping Parents Understand & Cope with Their Autistic Teenagers (Foundations + a 7-Day Starter Plan you can use tonight) Big Picture: What “autism in adolescence” actually looks like Autistic teenagers often have the same core profile as in childhood—differences in sensory processing, social communication, and cognitive flexibility—but puberty, new academic demands, and social complexity crank the intensity way up. What you see at home (shutdowns, meltdowns, “defiance,” school refusal, hours of gaming, refusal of hygiene, etc.) is often the nervous system saying “I’m overwhelmed,” not “I don’t care.” Key concepts to keep in mind: Nervous-system first, behavior second. Stress, prediction errors, and sensory load drive most “behavioral” moments. Monotropism. Many autistic teens focus deeply on a few interests. That focus is regulating—use it, don’t fight it. Alexithymia & interoceptive differences. Many teens struggle to identify internal states (e.g., “am I a...