How to Help Your Autistic Child Manage Stress

How you manage to help your child to deal with stress is determinant in their further development.

Dealing with stress is fundamental to feel better every day and improve our daily routines. Just like adults, children get stressed since its a natural process of growing up. However, helping them deal with stress can create a positive impact in their lives, so here are some tips on how to help your autistic child manage stress.

Help your child know that facing fear is important
It’s very natural to try and avoid situations that make us feel scared, but this can become a problem in the growing and development process of a child which can lead to anxiety and avoid the source of that emotion.A child needs to be taught that facing his/her fears is the healthiest and most natural way to grow and reduce that anxiety. 

Teach your child that perfection is not mandatory
Parents naturally want their children to do well in every situation in life; academic work, sports, daily activities and more. But it’s fundamental to understand that kids need the opportunity to be kids!
Although, as a parent, you need to teach them to work hard, and you have to be prepared to accept imperfections and mistakes as your child learn these lessons.

Keep a positive thinking
When a child gets anxious or stressed out, they might fall into negative self-criticism. If they grow with the tendency of focusing on the negative rather than the positive side of things, it can cause your child to get anxious about future situations. 
Try to set good examples and draw their attention to positive attributes and situations.

Make time to relax
Just like adults, children need time to relax and rest their minds. Try to schedule fun activities that can help them release anxiety. A relaxing space can help too. A room with lowlights and relaxing sounds can be beneficial.

Set the example
When it comes to self-care and behavior, parents become role models to follow. Since your child will try to emulate your behavior, you must try to avoid excess anxiety and deal with stress in healthy ways so he/she can learn to do the same. 
Make sure to schedule enough time to take care of yourself; this way your children will understand how important is self-care in their lives.

Reward any act of bravery
Deliver any positive reward when your child takes a step in standing against his/her fears. You can use tangible prizes such as stickers and treats or intangible rewards as hugs and praises. Rewarding positive behaviors will inspire your child and motivate them to keep a good behavior.

Try to implement these tips in everyday life to help your children grow and improve their behavior. These tips should help them outcome many situations and challenges that may appear in life. 
Keep checking our blog and social media networks for more tips, news, and information about everything related to Autism. If you’re interested in Autism Soccer’s project, be sure to check our social media accounts!

1. 

   Just like adults, kids need time to relax and feel calm.

---

Facebook: Autism Soccer

Instagram: Autism Soccer

Twitter: Autism Soccer

15165 NW 77 Ave Suite 1005 Miami Lakes FL 33014

Autismsoccer.org

Tips and Exercises to Promote Empathy in Autistic Children

Sometimes we want to transmit things that people may perceive, think or feel differently.

People usually think that having Autism Spectrum Disorder or any other related disorder will prevent children from developing empathy. People mistakenly believe that people on the spectrum can become violent or uncaring because of a lack of empathy. This is not true.

What is actually true, is that people with ASD sometimes need to make a bigger effort to see things from other people’s perspectives. Although, a child or adult on the autism spectrum might understand that someone is sad or angry or that the person is in pain, but will not necessarily understand why.

To promote empathy in autistic children (or adults), you can try these steps:

Developing the five senses

• Elaborate exercises so that your child becomes familiar with the senses and the organs that develop them and the verbs associated with them (see, smell, hear, touch and taste). First, try with showing photographs of people and ask them to point out the different organs of the senses, as well as pointing them out in themselves. To work the verbs (see smell, hear, touch and taste) try with different objects such as the ones that can be seen (toys, table), that can be smelled (food, perfume, flowers), others that can be tasted (chocolate, soup, juice), others that can be heard (music and instruments, the tv) and the ones that can be played (a cat, a ball).

Use visual aids as much a possible

• Autistic people are usually visual learners. You can try to show your child visually how other people feel in certain situations. These exercises can help him/her develop the ability to understand other people’s perspectives. Try watching a tv show or movie with your child, then pause the show at certain points and ask your child what the characters think or feel and why it might be happening.

Relate experiences to your child’s point of view

• This is the most basic skill you can teach to your child. Teach them to look at past experiences from others, and try to relate them to your child’s point of view. For example, you want to teach your child not to grab toys out of other children’s hands. Get as an example a book, a toy or stuffed animal that he or she loves and couldn’t bear to lose, then proceed to remind them the feeling that they can sense when the toy gets lost.

Verbalize your own empathy

• Parents become models and example for children. As children with ASD learn well by seeing what others do, you can demonstrate your abilities to take other people’s perspectives.

But above all, remember that children (and also adults) with Autism Spectrum Disorder CAN experience empathy. Have confidence that your child can and will learn to be empathic with others; you just need to help him/her learn and develop this virtue.

Being empathic starts with being aware and controlling our own five senses. Helping autistic children get in control of their senses, may help them grow empathy.

For more content, facts, and more information about the Autism Spectrum Disorder make sure to check our social media and keep reading our blog. Autism Soccer is here to help!

---

Facebook: Autism Soccer

Instagram: Autism Soccer

Twitter: Autism Soccer

15165 NW 77 Ave Suite 1005 Miami Lakes FL 33014

Autismsoccer.org

Airplanes and children with autism: make it a pleasant experience

Traveling with an autistic child might be a challenge, it requires planning and patience to achieve success.

Traveling by air with kids can be difficult since they can feel very uncomfortable with the length of the flight and the plane noises. Children love places where they can run, jump, play and even lay down to take a short nap, but an airplane might not be the most comfortable place to do such things. For many families, air travel can be a little stressful. But when it comes to traveling with children with autism spectrum, traveling can be a major challenge.

Today Autism Soccer is sharing some tips to try and make air travel a pleasant experience for your special kids.

Speak up

This step is one of the most important in order to have a good flying experience. When booking a flight, call the airline and mention your child’s condition. Many airlines have policies to help people with specific disabilities and are willing to make the aircraft comfortable for their needs. When arriving at the gate, is a good idea to tell the flight attendant that your child has ASD and explain why is a good idea to board first, getting settled in the seats early can make the whole flight easier.

Pay for what matters

If your kids are happy, you will be happy too. If your child likes the window seat, pay the extra fee to get it. In the long run, it’ll be money well spent, and you’ll be calmed and relaxed because your child is having a good time.

Plan for the worst

Better safe than sorry. Plan for situations that might not even happen. Pack a few of your child’s favorite toys, favorite snacks, water bottles, some change of clothes if an accident happens when eating or drinking beverages and lollipops or candies that can actually help if his/her ears start bothering. If your child is into iPad or a gaming device, bring it along with a charger that can be used on the plane.

Communicate

It’s a good idea to introduce yourself and your child to the person who sits in front of you and illustrate his/her condition. Explain to them that you’ll try to keep your child content during the flight, but ask for tolerance because it’s hard for your both of you. When doing this, people are more understanding, can actually help and understand better what's going on.

Try to plan everything before booking a flight.

Others suggestions are:

• Take someone with you for support:
• Take a friendly-face that can help you with your child during the flight, having a friend or someone close there to help you will be appreciated, especially for stretching your legs and taking a walk around the airport.
• Be flexible:
• You may have planned for different entertaining places like park or beaches, or other touristic places, but changes in routine for your autistic child can be a little difficult and can lead to meltdowns. Try to understand and be supportive. Be patient and give some love and help your child with the difficulties he may face.

If planned correctly, you can successfully have a pleasant flight with your child. Remember, try to walk in your child’s shoes to understand their needs and support them in every way possible.

For more content about the Autism Spectrum Disorder, facts, and general information about the topic, make sure to follow our social media and keep reading our blog. Autism Soccer is here to help autistic children develop safely and offer them support to achieve success!

---

Facebook: Autism Soccer

Instagram: Autism Soccer

Twitter: Autism Soccer

15165 NW 77 Ave Suite 1005 Miami Lakes FL 33014

Autismsoccer.org

Learning Soccer: What It Can Do for Your Autistic Child?

Your child will love to experience soccer in a fun way.

Autism Spectrum Disorders are characterized by challenges in many social interactions, communication difficulties and a usual tendency to engage in repetitive actions. Children under the spectrum usually have a timid behavior and are generally taken as being introvert kids.

These difficulties, including sensory sensitivity, are usually manifested by delayed language development, problems in understanding and using non-verbal communication such as facial expressions or gestures, complications in forming and sustaining friendships and sensitivity to loud noises, bright lights, and strong scents.

That’s why soccer is a great sport, because it can help improve your child’s motor skills, strength, coordination and some other aspects like self confidence. Since Soccer is a teamwork sport, it enables your child to work on his social skills and communications with his or her teammates as well, it is a great option to face the spectrum with different and effective tools.

Here are some of the reasons why soccer is a good sport for your autistic child to play:

Motor skills development

• Soccer is a great sport for helping in the development and further improvement of motor skills in autistic children. Soccer requires a certain amount of concentration when playing because the child has to focus on the ball while concentrating on his body movements.
• This sport is an ideal activity to help children develop motor skills because it requires practice that, with the help of a coach who teaches step by step the movements, provides the necessary help in the development and improvement of these skills. Also, soccer practice will help with the child gain strength and coordination with the ball.

Social skills and communication, teamwork and cooperation

• Practicing sports can help develop the ability to cooperate with others, and this will grant major success with the child's relationships. Since soccer is a sport that has a coach looking after everything that’s going on, he will motivate the children to work as a team to make the plays, instead of promoting solo performances.
• Soccer also helps to develop social skills and establishing good communications because the child will need to interact with his or her teammates in order to achieve the desired play.

Self Esteem and confidence

• For a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder, practicing a sport can be very meaningful and bring positive aspects in the self-esteem and confidence fields. When playing soccer the child can, as said before, interact with other children and at the same time this will allow him or her to get to know their self better and improve their confidence and self-esteem.
• Since soccer is an activity that requires control of the ball and the entire body, self-esteem plays an important role because as the child starts growing comfortable with his or her body and his surroundings, it will allow him or her to perform different tasks correctly when playing. When playing team sports, confidence plays a fundamental role.

Children can learn social skills. They can also learn how to control their impulses and deal with stress.

Autism Soccer is a project created to help autistic children develop happily and in a safe environment by practicing a sport that can be beneficial to their health and ease up the love for sports. For more information about the project and how to enroll your child in this activities, do not hesitate to contact us through our social networks or website.

---

Facebook: Autism Soccer

Instagram: Autism Soccer

Twitter: Autism Soccer

15165 NW 77 Ave Suite 1005 Miami Lakes FL 33014

Autismsoccer.org

Five Daily Activities for Autistic Children to Have a Healthy Routine

Help them create a stable environment to develop themselves healthily and comfortably. 

Sometimes, it’s hard for parents to plan the perfect routine for their kids since they might find certain activities boring or dislike them completely. But finding likeable activities for autistic children is not that hard. There are many activities that are great for developing their skills and communication.

What are the best daily activities for an autistic child?

People generally think that a child with autism can’t live a normal life, but they can. Daily activities are a bridge to the world for children with autism. Of course, since each and every child is different, every kid has his own interests, that's why daily activities may vary..

Since the most part of autism diagnosis occur at an early age, some of these activities work as well as therapies for toddlers. Such activities are:

• Painting with their fingers: this is a great activity because it helps children to get familiar with colors. Practicing this activity helps in the improvement of the child’s knowledge of their surroundings, which is beneficial for their development. Painting either with paintbrush or with bare hands is great for them to grow.
• Boxes and toys: for this activity, place your child’s hand in a box and wait for him/her to identify the toy inside. This is a great activity for helping them increase their abilities to perceive their environment, while simultaneously helping them to develop their sensory skills.
• Bubble therapy: soap bubbles are a very friendly tool for games, that will also help the child develop their motor skills. Whether the child is playing with siblings in the garden, in the park or even at bath time, pointing out and bursting the bubbles will help develop their motor skills while enjoying a cool game.
• Songs and rhymes: besides being a fun activity, singing improves their speaking skills. Children will be more interested in this game and will begin to learn new words gradually. A good idea is to try to make poems and turn them into songs that can be used to practice their new vocabulary.

It’s important to help your child commit to the activities of daily life because they mean a challenge, and sometimes they promote an interest in learning. Other activities such as solving a simple puzzle and role games have a significant impact on their growth too. Remember to be patient and give love and support to your child; they are both very important for their development.

Soccer is also a good activity to help autistic children to develop happily, swing in them a love for sports that will last a lifetime. Autism Soccer wants to help and support children to develop their skills and social relationships. For more information, contact us through our social networks or website.

If you teach your child early on to set regular habits, they'll develop confidence and responsibility.

---

Facebook: Autism Soccer

Instagram: Autism Soccer

Twitter: Autism Soccer

15165 NW 77 Ave Suite 1005 Miami Lakes FL 33014

Autismsoccer.org

Myths and Facts That Can Change the Way You See Autism

There are a lot of myths that make it hard to understand what autism is really like.

Everyone is different. When you find stories about autistic people that are tragic or outrageous, it's just about a single person. Media news shares heartwarming and, sometimes, heartbreaking stories about individuals with autism. This news sometimes change the way people see autism in today’s society!

As you read through these myths, remember to have in mind that most of the people with autism are neither disabled individuals nor geniuses.

Here are some myths and facts that can change the way you see autism:

• Autistic people don’t have feelings

The myth: Autistic people cannot feel or express empathy or love.

The fact: Autistic people are extremely capable of feeling and expressing those emotions, maybe not in the most typical way, but autistic people are far more empathic than the average person.

• Autistic people are all alike

The myth: If you meet an autistic person, you’ll probably get an idea of how all autistic people are like.

The fact: All autistic people seem to have a common difficulty with social communication, but they are all as different as they could be.

• Autistic people are a danger to society

The myth: People with autism are dangerous in today’s world.

The fact: Public news reports of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder committing violent crimes have led people to fear and think that autism leads to violence. Some autistic individuals may have violent behaviors, but these behaviors are often directed towards themselves rather than others. Also, aggressive behaviors from people with autism are almost always caused by physical or sensory overload, frustration, or similar issues.

• Autistic people don’t build relationships

The myth: Autistic people cannot build solid relationships with others.

The fact: Yes, it’s true that is very unlikely that an autistic person will be a cheerleader or football captain, but that doesn’t mean that they are unable to have solid relationships with others. Many autistic people build strong friendships and relationships, get married and have satisfying romantic relationships.

• Autistic people have no language skills

The myth: Most autistic people are nonverbal or almost nonverbal.

The facts: Some autistic people are nonverbal or almost nonverbal. But people diagnosed with this spectrum can also be extremely verbal individuals with high language skills.

• All autistic people are savants

The myth: All autistic people have extraordinary “savant” abilities, such as amazing musical or mathematical skills.

The fact: A few autistic people are “savant.” While some autistic savants use their abilities for practical purposes, most of them aren’t that skillful. They are unable to use their skills in the context of school or business setting. The majority of autistic people have ordinary skills that they can develop.

• Autistic people have little or no potential for success

The myth: Due to their lack of average skills, autistic people are considered to have little or no potential for success.

The fact: Autistic people, like the average, can achieve great things, supported by those who believe in their potential. Autistic people are innovative individuals; they see the world through a different lens and with a different perspective. That can make a great impact in the world!  

Everyone is different. When you find stories about autistic people as tragic or outrageous, it's just about a single person.

Autistic people are not ordinary but do have certain abilities and skills that represent them. Apart from some unusual facts, autistic people prove to be capable of doing good in the world and achieving success with the right support.

For more content about the Autism Spectrum Disorder, myths, facts, and general information about the topic, make sure to follow our social media and keep reading our blog. Autism Soccer is here to help autistic children develop safely and offer them support to achieve success!

---

Facebook: Autism Soccer

Instagram: Autism Soccer

Twitter: Autism Soccer

15165 NW 77 Ave Suite 1005 Miami Lakes FL 33014

Autismsoccer.org