Teaching autistic children life skills to me are more important than academic skills. Autistic kids have difficulty dressing up, eating or trying new food, writing, grooming, tying shoe laces, zipping up jackets etc. This simple tasks can be very frustrating for them. The goal at school combine with parents is to work toward getting the child independtent and not to depend so much on adults.The school and home have to provide the proper setting in which the kid would feel confident and supported by the adults around him/her. Fine motor skills activities are one of the basic activities that can help them. For any child with disabilities especially autistic children the simple act of holding an object is a monumental task. Eye-hands coordination skills is not totally developed, so easy activities such as, paying with sand, water, toys would set the base line for them to work toward reaching their goals, always remembering that every child is unique and that we all learn at our own pace, patience and tolerance is the key.
Rafaela,
ReplyDeleteYour point is a very important one. Children with autism or any mental condition need to continuously be surrounded by an enviornment where they can practice necessary basic skills, especially fine motor skills. Children have young developing brains and if they are taught properly early on they can bring with them, as they age, certain essential skills that serve valuable later on in life.