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Homeschooling is a
blessing and allows you to feel confident knowing that you are giving your
children the absolute best education possible. When homeschooling a child on the
autism spectrum, there can be specific and unique challenges. My older daughter
has Asperger's and has been homeschooled for most of her life. I hope this
article will help give those of you homeschooling your children on the spectrum
a little support and advice from one who has tried it all and succeeded in
homeschooling a child with
Asperger's.
- Difficulty:
- Moderate
Instructions
Things You'll Need
- Your child
- Your homeschooling curriculum
- Patience
- Love
-
- 1
Chill. Things will change gradually, but they will change. Sometimes fear can sneak into your mind (fear about what the future holds for your child, fear that your child won't make friends, fear of what others might think) but try to block these thoughts out and only focus on what you can do today, just today, that will make your child progress a little and connect with you and the world around them a little bit more. Every progression is huge, and if there is any step back, which there probably will be, it is not permenant.
You probably chose homeschooling for your Asperger's child because:
1. The school they were going to could not help or support your child.
2. Your child was being bullied to the point of depression.
3. You knew that you could reach your child in a way that nobody else could.
4. You knew that you could give your child the best education they could get.
These are all great reasons why you have decided to homeschool your Asperger's child. - 2
Here are some tips that I have found really helps with the day.
1. TRY WITH ALL YOUR MIGHT TO KEEP A RIGID STRUCTURE. All children crave structure, but a child with Asperger's desperately needs it. It is structure during their day that allows them to feel confident that all is well in the world and that they can be sure that you know what is going on. It helps them to relax and helps them to trust you. If your child is anything like my daughter, they will resist this structure, especially if there wasn't enough structure before. Just keep reinforcing the structure. Keep doing it. Make a schedule for the day and post it on the wall where our child can see it. If your child is not reading well yet, read them the schedule aloud at the same time every morning before you start the day. Make sure that they know that you are in control and that you know what is going on.
2. MAKE ART A BIG PART OF YOUR DAY. Arts and crafts are healing and really help your child connect to the world around them. It does wonders for my daughter to have her creating a project and using her hand to mold something out of clay. They immediately calm and focus in a way that they are not able to do normally. my top choices for art are : CLAY AND POTTERY, PAINTING,and BASKETRY. - 3
3. GO OUTSIDE OFTEN AND GET INTO NATURE AS MUCH AS YOU CAN WITH THEM. Asperger's children have a deep connection to nature and the natural world. They commune with the animals and the plants, and feel connected to this world when they are around them. Go on hikes, take them to see a waterfall, take them into the woods for a nature drawing, or just to sit and listen to the trees. They LOVE it.
4. GET INVOLVED WITH HORSE THERAPY. Horses can work wonders for the emotional wellbeing of your Asperger's child. Horses can really connect with your child in a way that is hard for them to do with people. It is almost like your child can read their movements and communicate with them without words. It's great. - 4
5. INVEST IN ZOME TOOLS, LEOGS, K-NEX, OR ANY BUILDING TOY. Not only are these toys extremely theraputic, they really get your child to slow down, create, and focus. I don't know what we would do without them, and when our daughter is taking a break from her schoolwork, these toys really feed her need to use her hands and make something. - 5
I hope these tips have helped you, even if just a little. Good luck and remember...patience and structure are key!
- 1
Read more: How to HOMESCHOOL YOUR ASPERGER'S CHILD | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_2361956_homeschool-aspergers-child.html#ixzz1Z0sUfKNP
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