Baby Toys
It can be difficult for children to give up their favorite toys, and autism can magnify this problem. Although we do not need to make a person miserable, it is certainly wise to develop a plan of action so teens and adults are not still clinging to baby toys.
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It is not always necessary to help a person retire an object, but, in many cases it is appropriate to help our friends move away from playing with worn-out baby toys or tattered baby blankets as they grow older. The three-step transition plan described below has worked for a number of my friends with autism, even those who were particularly attached to a specific object.
1. Shhhhh. Avoid making a big issue about the plans to retire a favorite object. Instead of fussing at a teen for playing with baby toys or threatening to take away his baby blanket, purposefully and systematically help your friend with autism develop new interests.
2. Substitute. Again, without announcing your intentions, introduce some new objects that could potentially substitute for the baby toy. For example, one mom cut the logos off some out-grown t-shirts and sewed them on a throw pillow. The teen liked the new pillow so much that he just abandoned his old baby pillow on his own. A teacher put photos of some favorite toddler toys in a pocket-sized photo album. That allowed a very obsessive young lady to stay connected with an armload of favorite toys without carrying them everywhere.
3. Disappear. Once a person has an interest in some other objects, make the baby toy disappear for good. Although some families and teachers were hesitant to do so, they learned that a clean break definitely worked best. Some dealt with emotional outbursts initially, but, over time, their friend with autism became attached to more age-appropriate objects.
TIP FOR THE DAY: These strategies may not work in every situation, but they are worth considering. Patience is the key to success. Just gradually help substitute more age-appropriate objects as old favorites wear out and as a youngster with autism grows older.
NOTE TO READERS AND LISTENERS: I am Cathy Knoll, a board certified music therapist and long-time friend of many folks with autism. At FAQautism.com we are committed to providing free, practical, everyday tips for making life better for people with autism. Feel free to send me a confidential email at talk@FAQautism.com with your thoughts or challenging situations or innovative solution. And don’t forget to check out our website for a wealth of ideas and a glimpse into the world of autism. http://FAQautism.com
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