How to Motivate My Child with Autism

• Children with autism are not typically socially motivated.
• We must then find any physical item, food, or activity that motivates them.
• Finding that item will make it easier to teach your child new skills.
• Avoid thinking that your child will become too dependent on these items. If it helps them learn, then let’s use it to teach new skills.

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Two ways to find items your child likes include:

1. Watch them during their free time. During free time, put your child in a spot that has all their favorite things. If needed, you can add extra stuff your child likes in the room.

• Write down what they did during their free time.
• Write down how long they did that activity for.
• Watch out for behaviors your child engages in- this can include staring at a fan, hand flapping, rubbing their hands together, looking at the wheels of cars.

2. Grab all the items and activities your child enjoys.

• You will present two items at a time as a choice. Ask your child to “pick one.”
• You will then rotate which items you present together.
• Present each item equal amount of times.
• Write down which item your child chooses most often.
• The item your child chooses the most is his/her most preferred item.

Learning new skills can help any kid get through their day to day life.

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