Making sense of, and interacting with, the world can be challenging for children on the autism spectrum. A school for autistic youth can help, but these challenges aren’t limited to the classroom setting. That’s why it’s important for parents and other caregivers to help these youngsters gain the confidence and self-esteem they need to succeed in life. Below are five key life skills children with autism should learn.       

Crucial Skills for the Autistic Child to Master

1. Organizational Skills

As children move from one grade level to the next, the complexity of the tasks they’re given increases, as does the amount of personal responsibility they’re expected to take. Therefore, it’s important to start teaching children with autism organizational skills from a very young age. Checklists that identify supplies needed to complete homework assignments or items that should be packed for school are great tools for helping children stay organized.        

2. Practical Living Skills

This is a broad category that includes household chores, like washing dishes, taking out the garbage, and money management. From an early age, children should be included in activities such as cooking, grocery shopping, and housecleaning so they will become comfortable with them. 

3. Job Skills

Children need to learn how to work with others so they can function well in a workplace environment later in life. One good way for youngsters to gain job-like experience is through volunteering. Volunteer opportunities can be found through local sports clubs, Scouts, schools, houses of worship, and charity organizations.

4. Personal Safety Skills

It’s crucial for children to learn their personal information, like their street address and telephone number, who to call in an emergency situation, and how to identify strangers. Parents and teachers should impart this information and take every opportunity to reinforce it. For example, when they’re in a public place, parents should ask their child who they should ask for help if they were to become lost.    

5. People Skills

People skills, or social skills, include everything from making friends to carrying on a conversation. Parents and teachers can model good people skills for children, as well as use teachable moments in everyday life to reinforce those skills. Behavioral therapy and group therapy are also settings where children can receive practical instruction in people skills.   

If you live in the St. Louis, MO, area and have a child, student, or patient with autism whose needs aren’t being met in a traditional school setting, contact the Logos School. This school provides services for autistic youth and children with other special needs offering individualized academic plans, behavioral therapy, group therapy, and other programs to give students the life skills they need to move toward a bright future. For more information or to schedule a campus tour, visit the school’s website or call (314) 997-7002.