How to deal with an Autistic teenager?

When a child suffering from autism reaches teenage years, you may see numerous undesirable changes in their behavior, making you anxious and worried as a parent. The truth is, the changing behavior has nothing to do with autism but the fact that they are becoming teenagers! Apart from getting rebellious, a big challenge with many teens is that they become moody, un-communicative, and refuse to spend time with their parents. When tweens with autism hit puberty, they undergo similar hormonal changes. Thus, they may become even more moody, non-communicative, and unpredictable.

As an educator and a homeschooling parent, it is important that you know a few important facts to make the journey easy for you and your teen:

Like any other teen, they may demand more freedom. If the child needs schedule, give them more control over their schedule. Letting them have their own way sometimes will help you establish a better rapport with your child.
Teens with autism will need a greater amount of external support from family in the form of frequently checking their assignment books to ensure they are filling out correctly, and breaking down their projects into smaller snippets, with a deadline for every step.
Teens with autism will need more direction in other areas, particularly understanding sexual development and puberty. Many experts urge parents to start teaching their students about puberty early to ensure that they are prepared before they get unnecessarily alarmed about natural body changes that happen during this time.
Some children may need constant reminders about hygiene. They might not understand the concept of grooming for social acceptance, or they may not have any motivation to look or smell clean.
A lot of teens with ASD have to fight with social isolation. They want to be accepted by people. One of the best ways to ensure that the teen has positive social interaction is to get them involved in group activities they are interested in, to connect them with other people. For instance, an interest in gaming is often a great way for teenagers to connect with each other.

Even though adolescence and autism together can be a turbulent mix, with just a few strategies, you can make the teen years a time for positive growth. It is tough to bring up a child suffering from ASD but if you remain patient you can traverse through the difficult teenage home schooling years successfully and help your child fit in with the society.

Comments

Some facts about Homeschooling

Thinking of " homeschooling " your child? If you have a big family or have children who are socially awkward, here are some statistics that will definitely surprise you: Children react well to homeschooling education. Only 1 percentage point differentiates female and male students in standardized scores with girls averaging 88% and boys 87%. Homeschoolers tend to perform almost 39% above average in tests. Children who are homeschooled test at approximately 89% in subject by subject test scores, which is above the national aggregate. Homeschooled children in lower income groups outperform in public education. Even those families that make a combined income of below CAD 30,000 per annum outperformed public education by almost 30% in regulated test scores. Children who are homeschooled by parents with no college degree do better than those getting public education. Even within families where neither of the parents have a college degree, children are tested 83%. Th

Strategies that can help new Homeschoolers

Homeschooling can get extremely overwhelming for newbies. Here are six strategies that will help you get started in the right direction. Research about different types of curriculums. The choices can be overwhelming, so make sure you give yourself enough time to research. Make notes. Join a support group. Do not homeschool alone. If you do so, you may get bored, lonely, and burned out. Stick together with people who have taken the same path as you. There is a lot you can learn from your support group. Attend seminars and conference. Make notes as you listen to inspirational messages and practical advice from experienced homeschoolers. Subscribe to newsletters. Look at the curriculum closely. Follow blogs on homeschooling Canada . From e-books to free printable and newsletters, everything an educator needs is only a few clicks away. Recharge your batteries through blog hopping while your students are out on recess. However, try not to compare your journey with others

Get the right homeschooling support

A very important element that makes homeschooling easy is homeschooling support. Below are a few ways in which you can get the information and support your family needs for thriving: Support groups for homeschooling families - such support groups comprise of families who meet on a regular basis to provide social interaction and encouragement. These groups can be informal or formal depending on their purpose and scope. Certain groups restrict membership to just those families that make use of a specific curriculum. Other groups are open to families who teach their little ones at home. Homeschool Coops – when it comes to homeschooling cooperatives, families come together and assist in teaching each other's children. Paid tutors or parents can teach coop courses. If you choose a co-op, make it a point that you understand the commitment level for both students and parents. Message boards - Homeschool forums or message boards are the best for receiving support witho

Learning House - HomeSchooling Canada

Search This Blog