Games for autistic teens and guides for parents? Children on the autism spectrum will face unique challenges as they learn from home during the COVID-19 shutdown. These children process information and learn in different ways to their peers. They may find it more difficult to independently complete tasks and struggle with managing their time. They are also more likely to have difficulty in writing tasks or ones involving high amounts of language and communication with others.
While the number of children with other developmental disabilities has remained constant over the last decade, according to the nonprofit organization Families for Early Autism Treatment, the amount of children with autism in K-12 schools around the United States has increased by more than 100 percent. This means educators are dealing with unique student issues that they may not have seen in years past and responding to problems they may not yet have had experience with. Following are some examples of the challenges that K-12 students with autism face.
Staying indoors? Why not try these board games at home and play it ‘til your heart’s content. Surely, this is a good time to unwind and gather the whole family to play. These are games that families often turn to when boredom strikes. Perhaps this is the reason why they call it “Bored Games” (pun intended). These are the best activities for Autistic teenager because these games mainly help increase their waiting tolerance. This classic game of Scrabble is an easy game for high functioning ones, especially those with exceptional ability in word-formation. This is an excellent game that fosters their concentration and decision making skills. The calculation of scores could also be done to teach mathematics. See more information on Mike Alan.
Sometimes autistic kids have a delay in verbal language. For many autistic children, anxiety is a common comorbid disorder that can lead to situational mutism. Situational autism (also known as selective mutism) is an anxiety disorder in which a person normally capable of speech cannot speak in specific situations or to specific people if triggered. No matter the cause, there are are other methods to establish a channel of communication. Just because a child is non-verbal, it does not mean that they have nothing to say. Here are just a few ways to help an non verbal autistic child communicate.
Increased awareness of autism has also brought about an increase in the use of popular but sometimes problematic terms and images. For example, parents with autistic children are often asked whether their child is “high functioning” or “low functioning.” This is very common language; doctors and therapists use it frequently when talking to parents of autistic children, and some parents may use it themselves. Just be aware these labels might reduce unique, complex individuals down to a list of what they can and cannot do. In addition, autistic individuals labeled “low functioning” are often underestimated, while autistic persons labeled “high functioning” are often denied necessary services and support. “High functioning” and “low functioning” belong to a longer list of common terms to be aware of when posting on social media. Glossaries of problematic and preferred terms, and guides for language use, are available online.