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Article - Issue 6
Asperger's Children and Homework
As a parent how much influence and hounding should you do to your child with Aspergers when it comes to homework?
School can be a traumatic and complex situation for children with Asperger's. Homework can be a real nightmare, especially after spending an entire day forced to sit in the classroom. Parents of typically developing children also have problems how to handle the homework dilemma. You normally end up pushing, hovering, begging, and pleading with your child. Should we gently remind our children about their assignments and then let them face the consequences?
There are many reasons why homework can be such a problem for children with Asperger's. Homework interferes with their free time, which is better spent on that special interest. Homework is hard because of the distractions of home. What we need to do is find real strategies to help your child do their homework.
Here is a list of problems that interfere with a child with Aspergers' homework:
* Lack of organizational skills. Have lists written down, have daily schedules in plain sight, and a visual timer to help your child gain organizational skills. Time management is often an area of concern, this is an area that needs attention and needs parents to be persistent.
* Anxiety caused by frustration. Teach your child relaxation techniques he can use during class (deep breathing, muscle tightening and relaxing), this can be used anywhere for any circumstance.
* Communication difficulties (pragmatics or comprehension). Speech/language therapy can help your child with communication skills. These therapies can be performed in the home with the help of published resources.
* Cognitive reasoning. Cognitive therapy can be beneficial in this area.
Here are some helpful thoughts that may help you deal with the issues caused by Asperger's children and homework.
* Work out what is the best time of day? Does he/she work better right after school, after a play break and snack, just before dinner or even after dinner when he/she has had a shower and have calmed downed?
* Is he/she easily distracted by noise or activity? Find an area in the home for your child to be able to do their homework without interruption, no traffic flow areas, no television to suit their sensory needs.
* Find out what frustrates or upsets him/her? Try and avoid these triggers before and during homework time.
* Set in motion a good homework routine? Children with Asperger's work much better with a set routine. They may resist at first but keep to the routine and they will realize homework is not as hard as they first thought.
Having a child with Asperger's is a blessing to you and your family. Homework does not have to be a problem. Always remember, work with your child's strengths and be consistent. Keep on praising your child and tell them you know how they feel.
The work you put into your child you will surely get from him/her!
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