FAQautism

A recent Dennis the Menace cartoon by Hank Ketcham has a 12-word caption filled with wise advice for parents, teachers, therapists, and families of kids with autism.

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In the Dennis the Menace cartoon for February 25, 2010, cartoonist Hank Ketcham draws Dennis sitting in his time-out chair in the corner. His mom is giving him a stern and unyielding look in another futile attempt to eliminate Dennis’s misbehavior and mischief. Dennis peeks out of the corner of his eye and speaks words all parents should consider, “Wouldn’t it be easier just to tell me what I CAN do?”

This clever cartoon brings a chuckle to anyone who has been a teacher or parent, but it has some serious implications for our friends with autism. An inherent characteristic of autism is a deficit in communication skills, including receptive language, expressive language, and processing language. The language issues mixed with occasional inattention result in confusion and misunderstandings. Life runs smoother if we focus on telling our friends with autism exactly what they CAN DO rather than talking to them about what they CANNOT DO.

For example, if we say, “Don’t leave your shoes by the door,” our youngster with autism may become frustrated because they are not certain what we want themto do. So we can say, “Put your shoes in your closet now, please.” More examples:

+ “Read this book now” rather than “Don’t just sit there staring out the window.”
+ “Hands on knees” rather than “Don’t hit your friend.”
+ “Lunch first, please” rather than “Don’t go outside until you’ve cleaned your plate.”
+ “Quiet sounds, please” rather than “Don’t make so much noise.”

TIP FOR THE DAY: Let us consider two new habits. First, let’s get in the habit of telling our friends with autism what they CAN DO rather than focusing on what they CANNOT DO. Secondly, let’s get in the habit of reading daily cartoons like Dennis the Menace – they are filled to the brim with wisdom. Note: Dennis the Menace is the work of cartoonist Hank Ketcham with copyright held by North America Syndicate.

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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