Avoiding pressure on children with autism can greatly assist their rehabilitation. If parents notice the following issues, please correct them in a timely manner!
01. The pressure of over-expectation
Although children with autism may have a biological age of three or four, their mental development often corresponds to that of a one-year-old. This means that interventions for these children should still focus on the pre-verbal foundational skills required for infants under one year old. When planning intervention goals, parents must not set them solely based on biological age to avoid unrealistic expectations.
If parents have overly high expectations for their child that exceed their actual developmental level, this may not only weaken positive interactions with the child but also inadvertently hinder their learning process. When the child feels that the learning tasks are far beyond their capabilities, it can lead to anxiety and even resistance, causing us to miss many valuable opportunities for education and guidance.
Therefore, understanding and respecting the developmental characteristics of children with autism, and setting learning goals that match their actual abilities, is crucial for promoting their growth and progress.
02. The pressure of rote memorization
Parents often do not understand what cognition is. Cognition refers to a person’s ability to learn, think, adapt to the environment, and solve problems.
It is incorrect for parents to attempt to teach cognition through rote memorization using flashcards. Children may seem to learn many words, but they do not truly understand them. Learning language in this manner may allow the child to initially respond to parents’ questions, but after a few months, they may hit a bottleneck. After all, they are merely memorizing without being able to apply it practically.
The meaning of learning lies in what they have actually learned and how to use that skill, rather than just relying on memory to answer questions.
03. The pressure of mixed methods
Parents may not realize that a child’s abilities are guided out of daily life, developed through play, and not forced through a mix of harsh and gentle methods.
Play is a child’s nature; it is a way for them to interact with the outside world, and this applies to children with developmental disorders as well. Play plays a very important role in the early development of all children. It can promote the development of children’s language, communication, cognition, social skills, and physical abilities.
04. The pressure of anxiety
A parent’s anxiety and a tense family atmosphere place social pressure on the child. The child may not clearly understand the specific reasons but can sense the negative emotions, which is detrimental to their recovery.
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Guangzhou Angel Children’s Rehabilitation Hospital
To raise a healthy child is to create a happy family!
