5 Tips for New Autism Parents
Finding out that your child is on the autism spectrum isn’t easy for any parent. You may find that you’re confused, full of questions, and curious about what type of future this means your child will have. While you may feel a mix of emotions right now, don’t worry, life with autism is not like it used to be. There are many parents who are raising a child on the autism spectrum who are here to help. If you want to know what the top 5 tips for new autism parents are, based on the research of what other parents have said, then please continue reading to learn what you should know.
5 Tips for New Autism Parents
Don’t Blame Anything or Anyone
The immediate feeling most parents shared that they feel when they first get the diagnosis that their child has autism is blame. While some autism parents blame themselves, others will pass the blame to other things or people. Let go of trying to blame or find answers for what caused your child to receive this autism diagnosis. When it comes to this diagnosis you won’t be able to find any solid answers or any solid way to blame someone or something else.
Learn all that You Can
Now that you know your child has autism, it’s important to learn everything you can about your child’s new diagnosis. Connect with parents in groups and forums who are raising a child on the autism spectrum. Know that the autism spectrum is very broad, some children are non-verbal and some are high functioning. When trying to seek advice or resources, be sure you’re looking at the advice that’s geared towards your child’s diagnosis of autism, such as non-verbal or high functioning.
It’s Okay to Be Scared
There are so many useful resources online as well as scary resources out there. Learn to take each piece of knowledge with a grain of salt. Know that this is a scary time for you and you may find false alarms on the internet. Reach out to family and friends during this time to release all of your fears so that you are able to move forward in raising your autistic child in a positive way. Getting that autism diagnosis for the first time is always a scary moment for every parent, it is okay to be scared.
Take Your Child Out
Learn what environments work best for your autistic child. Your child may have sensitivities to noise or light, but you can still take your child out to enjoy everyday activities. Plan your outings with your autistic child for low traffic times at local shops, playgrounds, and parks. This helps your child learn to cope with their environment in a low key, minimally intimidating way. Allow your child to interact at their own level when out in public with you.
Accept and Love Your Child for Who They Are
Lastly, this is the most important tip I can give any new autism parent, learn to accept and love your child for who they are. This beautiful, amazing, wonderful child may have a literal thinking pattern, they may say things when they shouldn’t and they may be socially awkward but they will give the most wonderful memories of all. Embrace this new parenthood, and learn to love the life your child is living, for that will cure all of your other fears and allow both of you to grow a bond unlike any other. Raising a child with autism certainly opens your mind to new ways of thinking about life.
There are many more tips I could give you as a new autism parent, but I think these will cover the bases just enough. Welcome to a whole new world that will leave you laughing one moment and crying the next while shaking your head in between those moments. Raising a child with autism will be exhausting some days and you will wonder why this happened, but let all of that go and embrace this new journey in parenthood that will also be an amazing fulfilling journey.
Explaining Autism Spectrum Disorder to Siblings
I was recently sent a book called “Stewie Boom and Princess Penelope” written by Christine Bronstein, and I was extremely impressed by the way it breaks down and explains ASD to children. It shows children that no one is the same, we all have different handprints, likes, and dislikes, and even our brains work differently.
The story starts off talking about the differences between 2 brothers and their sister, and then the setting turns to a classroom where they learn more about how people are different, which leads up to Stewie, Zoom, Penelope having a playdate with Eric a boy on the Autism Spectrum.
I read this book to all 3 of my kids and they all loved it, I wish I had it available when Anthony was younger and Aidan was diagnosed.
Plus, the back of the book is packed with tips for parents and families.
This is an autism resource I definitely recommend for new Autism Parents.
More resources for Autism Parents
Find Inclusive Play Structures
This is such a great list. So many new parents of children with autism will really benefit from these tips, especially “Accept and Love Your Child for Who They Are.”
Those are really good tips for those parents who have an autism spectrum disorder child and this will be a great help for them. And thank you for giving us an awareness about it.
Dealing with autism definitely has its ups and downs. So glad to see others trying to do whatever they can to help.
You are really going to change lives with this post. These are the best tips I have ever read about.
It’s so great to see children’s books addressing Autism. It can be hard to explain it to kids on their level. I think this would also be a useful tool in schools, so that more kids can understand and appreciate their classmates differences.
Great tips! Parents will surely find them all amazing and pretty helpful.
Hi. I just found your blog. I was searching for Mom blogs in Tampa ( hoping to move there next year) and came across this article. Great advice!!! I, too, have a son with Autism (and 1 without it) and all the things you mentioned are so important. Just curious, are there pretty good resources in Tampa for ASD kids? Schools? Repite? MD’s?
I look forward to reading more of your blog.
Thanks
Jamie
Hi Jamie, thank you and congrats on the upcoming move! Honestly moving here from Boston was the scariest but the best decision we ever made. Schools are different, doctors are different, but the slower paced lifestyle and ability to get outside all the time has had an incredible impact on all 3 of my kids. We have all our specialty doctors out of All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg and I have really liked them so far, and we went through 4 pediatricians in the beginning and finally settled on a proactive doctor that everyone loved in East Lake/Palm Harbor. As far as schools, I did a lot of research before moving because I have 3 IEP’s to deal with and Florida schools have a reputation. However, I like our school district more now than in Massachusetts, but if you want a more tailored school there are so many private schools down here and the state offers scholarships for special needs based transfers. Feel free to message me on Facebook (facebook.com/mommyhoodlife) and we can connect if you have any specific questions, I remember that feeling of not knowing and would love to help in anyway I can.