| Autistic children have a variety of abilities that can | | | | Hanging the chart in your child's personal area |
| be used to their benefit to overcome the lack of | | | | helps him or her feel the personal control that a |
| certain skills in life. One of the simplest approaches | | | | charted schedule can deliver. |
| to autistic teaching of children is to make simple | | | | Teaching autistic children is so much more |
| step-by-step schedules for them to follow. | | | | successful when a schedule is adhered to as |
| From early morning to bedtime, there are many | | | | strictly as possible. Changes or disruptions can be |
| tasks in a day that must be managed by a | | | | very discomforting for the child so any change |
| parent to help autistic teaching of a child with | | | | should be clearly planned and explained. Sleep |
| compromised life skills abilities. These tasks are | | | | times and wake-up times should be as consistent |
| things as simple as getting dressed, brushing | | | | as possible. It is very important to remember |
| teeth, eating breakfast, preparing for | | | | that autistic children are extremely resistant to |
| appointments, daily chores, school, homework, | | | | change and they function so much better when |
| preparing for bed, and sleep routines. | | | | things are reliably the same for them. Because of |
| Having a charted schedule for your child can take | | | | this, you should try to keep their days and |
| the confusion out of the picture. Many autistic | | | | evenings as uniform as possible. Introduce new |
| children thrive on structure. With structure clearly | | | | things with a lot of discussion and gradual |
| mapped out they know what to expect and what | | | | introduction. Any new learning methods or new |
| will occur tomorrow. It removes a bit of the social | | | | task teaching would be presented when your child |
| fear factor that so many autistic children struggle | | | | is feeling good. Follow the daily routine and work |
| with. Especially for teaching autistic children, | | | | the new task into something already on the |
| schedules can be the key to a successful day. | | | | schedule so that the addition is as minimally |
| Once you have mapped out the daily schedule for | | | | disruptive as possible. When your child |
| your child, present it in the form of an attractive | | | | understands what is coming and what is expected |
| chart, using images and simple words. You can do | | | | of him, you will provide the most positive and |
| this on the computer quite easily with clip art and | | | | effective environment for teaching and learning. |
| a simple font for text. For example, for reading | | | | Teaching children with autism can seem |
| time you would place "Reading Time" and also | | | | overwhelming and sometimes downright |
| place a picture of an open book or a stack of | | | | impossible. Using a schedule chart can be one of |
| books. This helps your child's reading and | | | | the most effective methods for teaching autistic |
| comprehension skills. For an appointment you can | | | | children and turn difficulty into a pleasurable |
| use an actual picture of the child's practitioner. | | | | experience for both of you. |