Teaching your child with autism to follow basic instructions

If you are struggling with your child following simple, one and two step directions, read on!

You get frustrated when you tell your child to pick their toys up, get dressed for the day or close the refrigerator door because they aren’t doing what you ask of them. How many times do you have to say “pick up your toys” before it’s actually done??!! I get the frustration!

You child most likely struggles to follow simple commands and instructions because they struggle with receptive language. They aren’t purposely not listening to you. They aren’t purposely acting like a “bad kid” and not listening to their parents. Kids with autism truly have difficulty with receptive language and that means that they have a hard time understanding what is said to them. People with autism are visual learners. They learn better with what they SEE, not what they HEAR.

Not only is their a struggle with receptive language, but there also could be a lot going on that is overwhelming. Your child is trying to understand what you said but he is so overwhelmed by people talking in the other room, the TV on upstairs, the dryer running and his tag on his shirt itching him like crazy. Like WOAH! He’s taking in all of that overstimulating input while trying to understand what you are telling him to do.

So how can we help with comprehending simple commands?? Follow these steps below…

1. Pick the command you want your child to follow.

2. Create a visual for that command. Visuals make everything better :)

3. Model, model and model some more of the task you want them to complete.

4. Errorless learning aka physically prompting your child to complete the task that you are asking them to do.

5. Reinforcements are everything! Reward like crazy. Even when you are physically prompting them.

6. Fade prompts. This is where you get to see if they can initiate or complete the command on their own. If not, continue with physical prompts, and if so, use your reinforcements.

7. Repetition and consistency. Make sure you keep at it and don’t stop because it wasn’t working right away, Repetition is how kids with autism learn. Keep working consistently and progress will come!

One of my favorite tools for reinforcing positive behavior is a token board. If you haven't dowloaded mine, you can grab it here for free!