| It is most unfortunate that many wonderful | | | | can be used to improve areas of weakness. For |
| parents feel that they lack competence in dealing | | | | example let's say your child like books but does |
| with their autistic child. It can be strange and | | | | not engage in any kind of play. Rather than force |
| depressing to feel like your normal maternal or | | | | him to play with a toy he doesn't like, start using |
| fatherly instincts can be wrong when it comes | | | | books for imaginary play. Pretend to do what the |
| with interacting with your own child.But parents | | | | characters in the book are doing. Use the books |
| usually go too far in the opposite direction and | | | | to work on social conversation and academic |
| stop having any natural parent child interaction | | | | skills.Remember to celebrate improvements, no |
| worrying that if they resort to normal parental | | | | matter how small they may be. And be sure to |
| behavior and maybe just fool around and talk | | | | share the joy of your child's progress with the |
| nonsensically with their child, they will lose precious | | | | people who love him.Finally don't forget every child |
| moments of intervention time.Because children | | | | wants and needs to feel loved by his parents. |
| with autism don't recieve pleasure from simple | | | | Any activity that you and your child enjoy |
| games such as hiding go seek, peek a boo, or | | | | together is precious whether its watching TV |
| follow the leader and since they probably won't | | | | together or sharing and ice cream cone. Yes it's |
| come running to you when you call out to them, | | | | necessary to alter some of the ways of |
| parents need a whole new set of parenting skills | | | | interacting with your child to facilitate his learning, |
| which if they are not careful, can add more | | | | it's equally necessary to maintain the basic loving |
| stress to their already emotional lives.Your child | | | | relationship of parent and child and if you only |
| may have areas that need intervention but every | | | | think yourself as his therapist, then you need to |
| child also has special areas of strength. Believe it | | | | find your way back to being a loving parent again. |
| or not, focusing on his or her areas of strength | | | | |