Decreasing anxiety for children with Autism can be a challenge. Most kids with Autism experience some level of anxiety. Anxiety can show up as avoidance behaviors and/or destructive behavior. Reducing anxiety causes a decrease in negative behaviors resulting in a happy child. Recognize your own anxiety about situations. If you are nervous and anxious about an activity or event then your child is more likely to be too.
Tips to decrease anxiety for Children with Autism
- Breathing exercises by taking deep breaths using your abdomen (belly pushes) and breathing through your nose.
- Chunking up work loads. Taking assignments at school or homework and folding the paper to show half of the work needed to be completed first then have the child complete the other half of the worksheet. This can be done with chores at home too. Pick up three toys, take a break and then put three more toys away.
- Assess if using a timer is helping or hurting the child. Sometimes a timer causes more anxiety.
- Decrease talking and increase the use of visuals. Showing the child what the expectation is verses saying it decreases the chances of auditory sensory overload. Using visuals also helps the child have something to refer to such as a schedule.
- Physical tasks or exercise help reduce stress and anxiety. Have the child take movement breaks in the classroom and at home. There are several YouTube videos that the child can watch and participate in.
- Preparing the child ahead of time using schedules and social narratives. Knowing what to expect and being prepared helps reduce anxiety and increase positive behavior.
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