Autism – Seeing the World from a Different Angle

  Children are a blessing from up above, and every child is special in their own special way. If we want them to bloom into beautiful adults, we must cherish them - just the way they are, accept them - for what they are and love them – unconditionally.

I know all these things are easier said than done, because at every point the preacher, the teacher and the admonisher in us jump out at every given chance. This is especially so, when the child is differently abled. However, if we learn to accept them for what they are, we will be able to make a world of a difference for them.

‘Autism’, the word itself gives you an image of a child who is unable to speak and comprehend easily, a child who has difficulty in social interactions, someone who has delayed learning, someone who makes repetitive use of words or gestures, someone who cannot define his/her emotions at the right time and at the right place. Well these may be symptoms of Autism, but trust me there is much more than this in a child with Autism. Autism is just a part of who he is, it does not define the one suffering from it.

Here’s a list of what you need to know if you have someone suffering from Autism around you:

It is very important for people, including parents, caregivers, friends and family to understand the ways of interacting with someone who has Autism, or falls in the Autism Spectrum Disorders. It helps to remember that the autistic child needs your ‘empathy’, not your ‘sympathy’.

• Not all kids with Autism behave in the same manner. You may think you know the signs and symptoms of Autism but what you may observe in every child may be different.


• Consciously avoid getting and feeling awkward around a child with Autism. The more awkward you get, they will sense it and shy away from you.


• Remember that they are, after all, children, and need and crave for as much love as any other child. They need your love and love you back equally if you do it right!


• They have difficulties in communication, but if you pay attention, they have their ways of making you understand what they want or how they are feeling.


• They have difficulty in understanding what you say. So whenever you talk to them be simple and straight with your words. Multiple instructions/ commands/ idioms/ phrases/ sarcasms are not for them!


• When you talk to them, have patience and wait for their response. It will not be as expected, but it will contain gestures, words or sounds which will convey their message.


• To learn anything new, they need to see it to understand it. It may take a lot of time, but their visual memory is stronger that you can imagine!


• They do not have instant processing skills, so to make them understand one may have to explain concepts and instructions


• If you see them sitting alone in a playground, it may look like they do not want to play with other children. It may be that they simply do not know how to start a conversation with other kids or they just do not know how to play! Help them out by slowly initiating them to the world of play and social interactions.


• There is usually a fixed pattern when these kids undergo a meltdown. There are also certain things that can trigger a meltdown in such kids. Try to identify them.


• Focus on the things that they can do instead of the things that they cannot. There is more than one way to get things done. You have to be patient enough to identify their strengths.


• Although they have special needs, nevertheless, they are as smart, thoughtful and creative as a normal child would be.


• They may appear withdrawn, absent minded, or mean to you. However, they are just trying to defend themselves. An environment full of noise, crowd or hustle bustle may appear intimidating to them.

The whole idea is to understand that these kids are different. You cannot forcefully mould them to fit the social norms or behaviour patterns that you think is acceptable. When you come across an autistic child, instead of creating an aura of awkwardness around them accept them as they are. Give them unconditional love, comfort, empathy and compassion. They are humans just like us...they are just differently-abled!

Moving Ahead With ADHD

 Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) can find school life quite challenging. And it is completely understandable, given their inability to focus and sit still. Kids with ADHD find it difficult to organize, solve problems and exercise self-regulation. If something doesn’t interest them, they just won’t do it. They could sit in front of their homework for hours together and still manage to write only a few words. They are impulsive and cannot control their whims and desires. If they feel like getting up and running around in class, they will. They can’t help it.

The academic performance of a child with ADHD is affected by several factors, such as genetics and environmental influences. While we can’t alter their genes, we definitely can positively influence their environment. With a little help from parents, teachers and guardians, their academic achievements can get better.

Listed below are a few effective ADHD management tips which are sure to help:

Communicate with your child’s teacher

Every child with ADHD is different. And it is unfair to put all of them in one big bracket. Talk to your child’s teacher about his personality and temperament. As a parent you probably know what works and what doesn’t with your child. Share those observations with his teacher. It will help her handle him better.

Help Your ADHD child get organized

Organization skills are a huge problem for those suffering with ADHD. They are unable to keep things in an orderly fashion. Their books, papers, clothes and toys – almost everything will be all over the place. The books will have empty pages in between the ones that have work written on it, some pages could be missing and some of the pages may be torn. Help them organize themselves - simplify it for them with the help of checklists and charts.

Here are some examples for your reference:

1. -Colour-code their racks - things that belong together can be marked with one common colour


2. -Give them a check-list they could refer to while getting ready for school in the morning


3. -Give them a chart for every day of the week, to keep track of the day’s activities

Monitor their Progress

Keep a diary where you can jot down all his progress and developments. Get in to a system with his teacher whereby you meet her at regular intervals, and communicate weekly. Jot down your observations regarding his behaviour with dates in place. This will help you to compare his behavioural changes over time.

Homeopathy for ADHD

The role of Homeopathy in treating ADHD and behavioural disorders has been enormous. The highly individualistic and holistic approach of this science offers a safe, gentle and effective solution for children with behavioural and learning issues.

• The best thing about Homeopathy is that the medicines are individualized for each patient. The remedy given to a particular child will be different from the remedy given to another with the same problem.
• All homeopathic medicines are mostly made from natural resources, making them safe, pure, chemical and side-effect free.
• The medicines are not habit-forming, and do not have any withdrawal effects.

The bottom line is, if you help your child accept rather than struggle against ADHD - all of life’s possibilities will open up for him. You can help your child find personal and professional success in the future by helping them identify their strengths and then capitalize on them.

8 Parenting Strategies To Manage An Autistic Child