Food and diet
Using the toilet
Activity choices
Sleep habits and routines
EDUCATION
If you feel as a parent your child ’ s sensitivities to food , play preferences , the need to be alone , or his / her communication style is misunderstood by school staff , then book a meeting to address the issues directly .
4 . The child goes to sleep late or has few hours of sleep . Teachers may say , “ This is most likely because there is unregulated screen time at home because of poor home routines or lack of supervision .”
5 . The child doesn ’ t want to play with other students . Teachers may say , “ There are poor examples of this at home — the child is allowed to get away with poor behavior .”
6 . The child uses words in the wrong context and repeats the same phrases . Teachers may say , “ The child must be repeating what he / she has heard at home .”
If you feel as a parent your child ’ s sensitivities to food , play preferences , the need to be alone , or his / her communication style is misunderstood by school staff , then book a meeting to address the issues directly . While it ’ s a good idea to be diplomatic , it is sometimes sensible to remind teachers that your child has specific kinds of autistic traits that affect the ability to function independently and happily through a school day . Remind staff that your child puts a lot of energy into attending school and needs down time away from other students both during the school day and afterward at home . Don ’ t be afraid to tell them that your child needs to spend a lot of time doing the activities he likes to ensure he has the energy to come back to school again the next day . Here are some tips on ways to bridge the misconception gap :
1 .
Food and diet
If talking about food with teachers , ask the staff to understand your child has a limited number of foods he / she will eat and to support him / her in eating food during the day , rather than questioning what is being eaten . Explain to staff that you continue to make attempts to
36 | Autism Parenting Magazine | Issue 71
2 .
3 .
4 . broaden the range of foods your child can eat . If there are physical sensitivities , explain them : one of my children can ’ t eat strawberries , because of the seeds . If your child has a limited number of foods he / she can eat , you will need to continue to raise this issue when new staff works with your child .
Using the toilet
If toileting is a problem , keep staff updated on issues . Sometimes children with autism can refuse to visit toilets at school for sensory reasons and may have accidents as a result . They may be slower to toilet train or have issues with night nappies for longer than other children . If your child needs changes to toilet facilities at school , or to attend the toilet during class times instead of recess , then incorporate these needs into your child ’ s plan .
Activity choices
If your child has limited kinds of activities he / she enjoys , you will need to continue to remind staff that your child is not limited , but rather a specialist . Reframing the way people see your child is one of the joys of raising a child with autism . Your child can certainly add in new activities , but moving on to new things is a delicate operation , and sometimes as a parent , it is better to pick your battles . It is the same in a school setting , and you can pass this idea on to your child ’ s school .
Sleep habits and routines
If the staff questions you about sleep habits or routines , be clear that you are a parent who considers the welfare of your child at all times ,