What are you really learning Autism

Last week was a hard week for us. We laid to rest my Uncle and three of my cousins are without their parents. My aunt passed away over a year ago. And the funeral was during the school day which meant that there was a possibility that it was still going on when Doodle got out of school. So an early dismissal was in order.

This time around Doodle didn't act up like she did at my aunt's funeral. She was very well behaved which I'm proud of and I only had to tell her about 10 times to shhhhh. Cause Doodle is a talker. But the best news is she didn't recite scenes from Muppet Treasure Island like she's done at past funerals. Nothing like hearing a kid scream out, "She's DEAD??!!" Or pretending to be dead herself on the couch in the funeral parlor.

So why is Doodle getting better? Look when it comes to a child on the spectrum the most important thing is that they have to get used to things, like the world around them. People will never be able to get used to our kids so we have to get our kids used to the world they live in. There are rules for being out and about in town so we have make sure our kids learn that. We as parents have to take the time to teach. We can't leave everything for the teachers to do.

Even parents of regular ed students need to take time out of their schedules to teach. For some reason the main thing I'm seeing on YouTube and Facebook is that parents are getting upset that children aren't learning some basic things in school. Well, how about we step up and teach? It doesn't stop with our kids learning their first words or first steps. We have to continue teaching them as much as possible.

For instance Friday was a perfect day to teach how the earth revolves around the sun. Doodle and I were coming home from picking something up. One side of the sky was bright and sunny and the other side was dark and gloomy. The sun was getting ready to set and it was the perfect time to teach Doodle about where the sun was and why the sky looked the way that it did.

Also give into consideration if you are leaving things for the teacher to teach your child, your kid isn't going to be learning a whole lot. Our children take in more information from other children. Which is why more parents are shocked at their childs behavior when the child is caught doing something severely wrong, such as bullying or cheating or skipping school. Children on the spectrum learn by mimicking their peers behavior. So what are your kids really learning? They are learning more from their peers then they are from the teacher in the classroom.

When it comes to a new hobby or painting style we are willing to put in the work to learn as much as we possibly can. Why are we not doing the same for our children. Get out into the world with your child at least once or twice a week. I know for some parents it's a hassle. But hassle is such a dirty word. Why? Cause you are making it a hassle (a problem). You can't just give up at the start of a race. When you were learning to walk, you never gave up. You fell a lot but you kept at it. That's the same way that you should look at it. And before long you can have a child that knows how to act when out in public. Don't give up and keep at it.

See you guys on the flip side.