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If you have an autistic child, therapy is a great way to help them connect with the world around them and improve their development. Therapy can help them work through the challenges that autism can bring. Sometimes, though, simply going to therapy can be a challenge for your child, especially if they’ve never been before. To help your autistic child with therapy and overcome their fears, getting the most out of their autism therapy, here are a few ways to help them prepare.
Practice at Home
One great way to prepare your child for their therapy is to practice the therapy at home so that they’ll know what types of experiences they’ll encounter. You can even go so far as to set up a mock office using chairs and a table so that your child is prepared for all of the different stimuli they’ll experience. Though the actual therapy should be left in the hands of the therapists, you can make everyone’s life easier if you do a dry run at home.
Discuss Over Time
Many autistic children struggle with sudden change. If that’s true of your child, it’s important that you start talking about their upcoming autism therapy well in advance. If you wait until the last minute to tell them what’s going to happen, it could cause a negative emotional response that could make therapy next to impossible. By discussing the therapy over time at your child’s pace, though, they will be ready to go when the day of their appointment arrives.
Talk to the Therapist
If you’re able, it’s a great idea to allow your child to speak with their therapists on the phone or video chat before their appointment. This will allow your child to create a personal connection with the therapists so that they’re seen as friends instead of strangers. This will help your child lower their guard so that the therapists can push your child more during their therapy.
Highlight Successes
When it comes to helping your child with their therapy, it’s important to surround them with a loving community. One great way to do this is to allow your child to talk with other children who have gone through similar therapies. By seeing the ways that the therapies have helped the other children, your child may be inspired to face their own therapy without fear.
Stay Patient
Thanks to your efforts, your child may conquer their therapy with flying colors. On the other hand, they may still experience challenges that make progress slow. No matter what happens, though, it’s important to remember to stay patient with your child so that they know that you’re on their side. As long as they have your support, they will eventually get to a point where they are comfortable going to therapy.
Here are more ways to empower your specially-abled children to conquer their fears.