A Guide to Elopement in Autism – Causes, Prevention & Safety

Elopement presents a major risk to your autistic child’s safety. Find out the causes of elopement, what prevention strategies to use, as well as how to plan for possible elopement.

Autism Elopement Prevention & Safety

When most of us think of the word “elope” we picture two people sneaking off to get married, often on a whim, without the traditional ceremony. However, in terms of autism care, elopement has a different meaning. In the context of autism and special education, elopement is when someone, often a child, who may require supervision, leaves a designated safe area or a responsible caregiver without permission or supervision. This can happen in schools, therapy centers, or even at home, and the consequences can be severe. While therapy centers and schools catering to autistic children will have stringent measures in place to prevent and deal with elopement, it’s important for parents and caregivers to understand the seriousness of preventative measures at home.

Why Knowing How To Deal with Elopement is Critical in Autism Care

Every parent’s main goal is keeping their child safe. But, when your child has been diagnosed with a developmental condition like autism, this goal can come with extra challenges. Wandering, or elopement, is one of these challenges. Autistic children are roughly four times more likely to leave a safe environment without permission than their allistic siblings. And, unfortunately, autistic children who elope often fall victim to harm through traffic accidents, drowning, falling, extreme weather, or even encounters with predators (human or otherwise). 

Nearly 50% of autistic children have eloped at some point in their lives, often with tragic consequences, and many parents are left in a constant state of anxiety.  When faced with such a terrifying prospect, it is no wonder that parents of autistic children can be tempted to employ extreme measures to protect their children without considering whether their interventions will be effective or not. 

According to the Organization for Autism Research (OAR), following their Safety Planning Cycle helps parents to constantly equip themselves and their children with the tools and skills to secure their child’s safety through prevention and planning.

Why Do Autistic Children Elope?

Firstly, it is important to understand why many autistic children elope. Autistic individuals tend to elope or wander due to factors like sensory overload, curiosity, or a desire to escape an uncomfortable situation. In their review of the assessment and treatment of elopement, Dr. Megan Boyle and Dr. Reesha Adamson of Missouri State University describe the four most common reasons for elopement as follows:

1. To get away from a place, activity, or person (escape)
2. To obtain access to an item, activity, or person
3. To engage in an intrinsically pleasurable activity, such as running
4. To gain attention

Understanding your child’s triggers makes prevention and safety much easier to manage. If it is not immediately apparent why your child elopes, consider keeping a log of every elopement, to help you identify trends.

Here are a few questions to guide what to log:

• What sequence of events preceded the elopement?
• Who was present?
• Can you remember any significant stimuli or obvious triggers?
• Where was your child going?
• What happened after the elopement?  

Once there is a fair understanding of the reason for elopement, parents need to develop an elopement prevention plan that anticipates these triggers and mitigates the need for elopement as a response. 

The elopement precaution and prevention plan may include some of the following interventions.

The Safety Planning Cycle

There are five basic steps in the Safety Planning Cycle:

1. Understand

What does your child need? What makes the child safe or unsafe in a particular situation? Where possible, engaging your child in the process can help you get valuable insights into their perspective and give them a sense of control and empowerment to be a part of their own safety plan. 

2. Prepare

What skills does your child need to practice in order to be safe? What resources do they need? What can be done to support your child? Parents might consider tools like GPS trackers for added security, visual schedules for predictability, or wearable ID tags for emergencies. We go into more detail on these measures later in the blog.

3. Practice

Once you’ve created your plan and identified the various tools and skills, implement them and find effective ways to reinforce them. For example, you can practice scenarios that mirror real-life situations, like safely crossing a busy street or responding to a change in routine.

4. Share

This is a key step towards securing your wandering child. Share your plan, skills, and tools with everyone entrusted with your child’s safety as well as those who form part of your support network. From school teachers to community safety personnel like police, firefighters, and EMS, the more people who are aware of your needs, the safer your child is.

5. Update

Work with your child to constantly assess the plan, tools, and skills. See what works and what doesn’t then revise and update the plan accordingly. As your child grows and gains new abilities or faces new environments, revisiting milestones and adapting the plan is crucial to keep it effective.

Behavior Modification

Elopement prevention for autistic children should go beyond ensuring a safe environment for your child. Remember that children who feel safe, who feel that they have a choice in their decisions, and who feel that all their physical and emotional needs are met, are far less likely to elope. 

So, to create a safe home for your autistic child, yYour prevention plan should therefore begin with behavioral interventions that reduce the need for your child to elope. These should also be supplemented with more practical interventions to inhibit them should they be overcome with the urge to run. ABA interventions for elopement are particularly effective, as they focus on understanding the functions of behavior and teaching alternative, safer responses to meet those needs.

A behavior intervention plan for preventing elopement should focus on addressing the triggers mentioned above. A key tool in this is to implement Functional Communication Training (FCT), a process of reinforcing alternative behaviors to elopement that meet the needs of the child as defined by the triggers. Here are a few FCT interventions that you can discuss with your professional support network to consider in your plan. 

Attention-Seeking

When it comes to autism and elopement, particularly in cases of a child seeking attention, parents should use visual aids to teach the child how to get their attention without running away. Parents, who are often the preferred person, should be the ones using visual aids to reinforce the alternative behavior. It might also help to give increased fun and exciting attention in spaces where you want your child to stay.  

Parents should avoid overly angry responses to elopement as this will reinforce the need for attention. Instead, provide positive reinforcement for all things you want your child to do, other than elopement.

Trying To Escape

First, try to identify what would trigger a child’s need to escape a particular situation. This could be overstimulation, change in environment, or even just a chaotic or noisy environment. 

Parents need to teach their children how to ask for a break from whatever the trigger is rather than elope. If they run anyway, it is important to bring them back safely and then review better strategies for escape in the future.

Once back, parents should adjust the task or change the environment to reduce the stress on the child by introducing breaks or moving to a quieter room. This should then be followed by positive reinforcement of getting back to the task. Again, meeting elopement with anger will trigger further elopement or in this circumstance, turn it into a game. 

Doing Something Pleasurable

Sometimes referred to as “automatic reinforcement or maintained behavior,” autistic children often elope simply to engage in something they enjoy doing, like running or feeling the breeze outside. 

In cases where automatic reinforcement is the trigger, parents need to provide more regular access to that activity in a controlled environment. This will reduce the impulse to elope to access it. For example, a child who loves running should have additional access to a gym or track with supervision. 

Desire to Access an Item, Person, Area, or Activity

Where the trigger is a desire to gain access to an item, person, area, or activity, parents need to teach their children how to ask for it or access it in a safer way. It is also important to establish a routine for access. Explain when they will get access and reinforce this by making absolutely sure that they get it on schedule. A break in routine will definitely encourage elopement. 

Teach Your Child Essential Skills

Here are some situational elopement strategies to prevent autistic children from wandering off, as well as ways to protect them should they succeed. 

Swimming

Swimming lessons for children with special needs can be difficult to find. The YMCA in many locations across the country offers this specialized service at affordable rates.

How To Navigate Traffic

Teach your child basic traffic navigation skills like what traffic lights mean, when and where to cross the road, and how to avoid moving vehicles. 

Stay With You in Public Spaces

Teach your child to understand the difference between walking and running. Reinforce holding hands or to walk within 6-12 inches of an accompanying adult as well as words like “go, walk, stop”. Reinforce things like staying by the cart in a grocery store, or keeping a hand on the cart in a parking lot.  

How To Communicate Contact Information

Verbal children can be taught to memorize parents’ phone numbers, addresses, and other critical information and should be taught how to provide the answers. This may be difficult or impossible for non-verbal children, so alternative means may be necessary in the form of an ID bracelet or card. Even in verbal children, this is a useful tool. 

Practical Interventions

Behavioral interventions will only go so far toward mitigating the underlying reasons for elopement. Skills are usually employed once in distress. There is even a risk of elopement in autistic children with low-support needs, which requires parents to take very practical steps to prevent a child from wandering off and to be in a state of readiness should the child elope. 

Create an Emergency Plan

There are many resources available with templates for an emergency plan in the case of elopement. This plan should include emergency contact information and a step-by-step guide on what to do should your child wander off. 

Your emergency plan should include things like a Google map of the area, a 911 emergency call script, highlights of dangerous areas like bodies of water and high-traffic zones, possible points of interest for your child, etc. 

You should have multiple copies of the plan stored in your home, car, office, school, etc. Be sure to share the plan with key people in your safety network like neighbors, schools, EMS, and others, especially if your child has a history of elopement in the past. 

Secure the Home

In instances where your child routinely wanders, you may need to consider securing your home with locks for your doors and windows, home alarms, printed STOP signs around the house, and even fencing off your yard. If possible, discuss these options with your local emergency responders to determine what is most appropriate, but also safe. 

Explore a Tracking Device

There are numerous wearable tracking devices that use different methods. Some use radio frequencies and triangulation, while others use GPS. Consider the right wearable for your child. Some may prove irritating and be removed. Many devices double up as elopement prevention devices by alerting parents when a child leaves a predetermined radius or location. 

ID Bracelets

Traditional medical ID bracelets will include your name, telephone number, and other important information. They may also state that your child has autism and is non-verbal, if applicable. If your child will not wear a bracelet or necklace, consider other means of ensuring that critical information is located on your child. 

Establish a Safety Network

Informing those around you and your child of your child’s vulnerabilities will go a long way to preventing wandering into extremely dangerous situations. 

Introduce Your Child to Your Neighbors

Creating a safety network starts with those in closest proximity. Introduce your child to the neighbors and try to establish a rapport where possible. Provide them with a picture of your child so they will recognize them. 

Introduce Your Child to First Responders

Providing first responders with key information before an incident occurs may improve response. Informational handouts should include all pertinent information and be copied and carried with caregivers at all times. Circulate the handout to family, neighbors, friends, co-workers, and first responders. See the tool kits below for resources to use to alert them.

Work With Your Child’s School

Ensure that your child’s school has a crisis plan in place in anticipation of possible wandering and elopement of autistic children. 

What To Do if Your Child Elopes

Should your child manage to elope, follow these steps to reduce the possibility of harm and ensure a speedy recovery. 

• Call 911.
• Locate your emergency plan and follow the action steps. 
• Alert first responders in your area and request an amber alert. 
• Explain to first responders that your child has autism and, if applicable, that their cognitive impairment makes them unaware of danger. Explain how they should interact with your child and what may trigger a flight response or paralysis. Give them suggestions of what to do and what not to do specific to your child’s needs.
• Request that your child’s information be immediately entered into the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) Missing Person File. 
• Alert neighbors and enlist them to help search for your child. 
• Distribute prepared materials with the following details: child’s name, communication level, how to calm your child if they are distressed, a recent picture of your child, caregiver’s contact information, and places your child is likely to go to. Distribute this information to individuals in your search party as well as public authorities.

Lighthouse Autism Center

The Lighthouse Autism Center is the Midwest’s leading autism therapy institution, which also provides world-class autism resources and is the proprietor of their unique, ground-breaking Lighthouse Fusion ABA Therapy program, which fuses the best practices of ABA and speech therapy into a one-of-a-kind clinical model to deliver better outcomes for autistic children.

Do Siblings of Autistic Children Suffer Increased Stress?

Every day, being a parent brings a new lesson about love, patience, and resilience and when you’re raising an autistic child, you’re exposed to even more unique joys and challenges. If you have more than one child, you have probably noticed the extraordinary bond that forms between your children – a bond shaped by understanding and adaptation. However, this bond can also come with its fair share of hurdles, some of which can go unnoticed by families, especially for the sibling of an autistic child. 

The bond between allistic (non-autistic) and autistic siblings is shaped by a number of factors, from their individual personalities to the family environment and the nature of their experiences together. And, while these sibling relationships are largely rooted in deep empathy, understanding, and support, they can also result in feelings of jealousy, guilt, or even resentment, usually due to the amount of attention an autistic child receives both at home and in social situations.

So, how can parents help their allistic children cope when they may feel overlooked, overwhelmed, or unsure of their place in the complex family dynamic? This blog explores the main challenges experienced by siblings of autistic children and how parents can support and nurture their entire family to ensure that their children grow into compassionate, balanced individuals. 

Autism and Siblings: What The Research Says

While sibling relationships are different in every family, growing up with an autistic sibling has its own unique challenges. According to a research paper on siblings of autistic children (The Quality of Life Among Siblings of Autistic Individuals: A Scoping Review), “non-autistic siblings of autistic individuals experienced decreased psychological well-being, less perceived social support, increased aggressiveness and conflict-proneness, and higher levels of anxiety and stress impacting their quality of life.” 

By understanding and addressing sibling stress, providing support, fostering open communication, and promoting self-care, we can create an environment that supports the well-being of all family members.  

Together, we can ensure that children not only cope but also thrive in their relationships with their autistic siblings, fostering a stronger and more inclusive family bond. Let’s delve into the main challenges faced by allistic siblings and explore some tips on how to help them cope with their autistic brothers and sisters. 

The Main Challenges of Having an Autistic Sibling

It is difficult to single out generic issues that affect families with an autistic child or children. It is especially complex when trying to understand the effects of autism on siblings, given that all families are different and all children within those families are different.  

For example, a younger sibling has always lived with autism in the family but may struggle to establish their own identity within the family dynamic, while an older sibling may resent the loss of attention to the autistic sibling who came later. Combined with the personalities and temperaments of each child, and even the nature of the autistic sibling, dynamics can vary considerably. However, it is important to be aware of the issues that can arise from the specific dynamic between allistic children and their autistic siblings.   

Here are some common issues that have been highlighted on how autism affects siblings. 

Family Dynamics

How a family responds to having an autistic child has a significant impact on allistic siblings. In some cases, when parents or guardians of an autistic child blame each other for the challenges it brings, it can lead to a separation or divorce.  

One guardian may end up with custody of both children and feel overwhelmed, angry, and frustrated. When the demands of autism become too much, this guardian might walk away or react with anger. As a result, the allistic child grows up in a chaotic environment, learning that challenges can strain family dynamics. This is one of the many reasons that it is so important to learn how to manage your stress as the parent of an autistic child. 

At a more practical level, the daily routines and dynamics of the family can be significantly impacted by the needs and demands of an autistic child. Siblings may have to adapt to changes in schedules, limited family outings, or altered family dynamics, which can create stress and a sense of imbalance. 

Embarrassment

Embarrassment is a tough challenge for siblings of autistic people, especially during childhood or adolescence. Children and teenagers often place a high value on the opinions of their peers, and when an autistic sibling displays behaviors that are perceived as “different,” such as stimming, sensory sensitivities, or trouble navigating societal norms, allistic children can start to worry about how their peers will react. Children can be judgmental and may make hurtful comments about their autistic siblings, which can amplify these feelings and leave them feeling conflicted between loyalty and love for their autistic brother or sister and their own desire for social acceptance. In response, they need to develop skills to support their autistic sibling and confront ableist bias as they grow older.  

Emotional Impact

Having an autistic sibling means the whole family has to make adjustments. Allistic siblings may experience a range of emotions, including confusion, frustration, embarrassment, or even guilt. They may feel a sense of responsibility or worry for their sibling’s well-being, especially in social situations or when witnessing their struggles. It’s really important to take care of the mental health of the children who aren’t autistic so they don’t develop feelings of resentment towards their autistic siblings.  

Often, they have to give in and make compromises. They may have to watch the same movie over and over again, leave a fun event earlier than they’d like, or even say “no” to throwing a big party, just to make sure their autistic sibling is comfortable. And as they get older, these siblings might realize that their parents have less time and money to help out with things like college, weddings, or buying a home. 

Great Expectations

Autistic siblings often require additional attention, support, and resources. This can lead to siblings feeling overlooked or neglected, as parental focus may be primarily directed toward meeting the needs of the autistic child.  

Even at a young age, siblings of autistic children are often expected to navigate their own emotions, take on additional household responsibilities, and put their own desires on hold. Independence at an early age is not uncommon, and comes with benefits, but also has its pitfalls. 

As they grow up, these siblings may find themselves shouldering even more responsibility for their autistic sibling, especially when it becomes challenging for their parents or guardians to manage everything. It’s a journey that requires understanding, compassion, and a willingness to lend a helping hand within the family unit. 

Communication and Relationship Differences

Siblings may find it challenging to establish typical sibling relationships due to differences in communication styles, social interactions, and play patterns. They may struggle to connect with their autistic sibling on a deeper level or face difficulties engaging in shared activities. Conversely, siblings may develop more of a parent/child relationship with their autistic sibling, which brings a different dynamic and feeling of increased responsibility at a young age.   

Financial Pressures

Money can play a significant role in the lives of families raising an autistic child. While it’s possible to navigate autism with limited financial resources, it can be incredibly challenging. Accessing resources, researching therapies, and attending appointments become harder for parents with hourly jobs or without internet access. 

And when those limited financial resources are primarily allocated to services for an autistic child, there may be little left for the needs of other children. College funds might be redirected to autism therapy, and additional expenses like fitting schools or respite care may require sacrifices. This can lead to resentment from allistic siblings towards both their guardians and their autistic sibling. 

Overwhelmed parents or guardians may lack the energy to assist with homework, coaching, transportation, or other typical caregiving activities. They may be unaware of school issues, emotional challenges, or potentially risky behaviors. 

The Strengths of Allistic and Autistic Sibling Relationships

There is no denying the challenges that come from the unique dynamics between autistic and allistic siblings, but that doesn’t mean that the relationship is always difficult. These sibling relationships often come hand-in-hand with unique strengths and beautiful, life-enriching experiences that shape who they are as people. From fostering empathy to developing advocacy skills, these connections can become a source of mutual growth and profound understanding. 

• Empathy and compassion: Allistic siblings often develop a heightened sense of empathy and understanding. Growing up with an autistic sibling gives them insight into different ways of thinking and being, nurturing a deep appreciation for diversity and the importance of kindness.
• Loyalty and unbreakable bonds: The shared experience of navigating the challenges and celebrating the victories of an autism diagnosis can forge a uniquely strong relationship between allistic and autistic siblings. 
• Advocacy skills: From an early age, allistic siblings often learn to advocate for their autistic brother or sister, especially in social or educational settings. This skill not only benefits their sibling but also prepares them to stand up for others and champion inclusivity in broader contexts.
• Teamwork and problem-solving: Navigating the dynamics of an autistic-allistic sibling relationship encourages creative problem-solving and teamwork. Finding ways to connect, communicate, and compromise strengthens their ability to work collaboratively in other areas of life.
• Celebration of uniqueness: In families where differences are embraced, siblings have the opportunity to celebrate and honor each other’s individuality. This strengthens the entire family dynamic and creates a foundation of acceptance and inclusivity.

Focusing on these strengths doesn’t negate the challenges, but it highlights the potential for profound connection and personal growth in allistic and autistic sibling relationships. The key is building on these strengths to create a nurturing environment where both siblings can thrive. By emphasizing open communication, shared activities that are safe for autistic children, and strong family support, we can ensure that these relationships blossom into a lifelong bond that celebrates the individuality of both siblings.

How to Help Children With Autistic Siblings Cope

While there is no one way to deal with the dynamics between siblings, there are a few tips on how to help your allistic child deal with their autistic siblings. 

Education and Communication

Providing children with age-appropriate information about autism can help them understand their brother or sister better. Open and honest communication within the family can foster empathy, reduce confusion, and promote understanding.  

Children may have misconceptions, such as thinking autism is contagious or caused by their own behavior. Discussing how autism affects their siblings specifically, helps children see them as a whole person with strengths and challenges.  

The first step to helping siblings understand autism is to start talking about autism when they begin to understand or notice differences. Adapt the conversation based on their age and understanding. Ask what they already know, use age-appropriate language, and be prepared to explain multiple times. Open communication fosters understanding and empathy among siblings, creating a supportive family environment. 

Individual Attention

Setting aside dedicated time for each child is crucial. It communicates that their feelings and experiences are valued and boosts their confidence and sense of belonging within the family. 

When allistic children have a positive self-perception, it can enhance their relationship with their autistic siblings.  

Create special moments by dedicating regular time each day to activities like bedtime stories or sharing positive moments. Additionally, listen attentively to your children’s thoughts and make time for enjoyable outings. Consider arranging trusted caregivers to look after the autistic child, allowing you to spend more quality time with their allistic siblings. 

Foster Positive Interactions

Siblings of autistic children often have positive feelings towards their brothers or sisters, but their relationships may not always be as close due to challenges in social communication.  

Encourage siblings to engage in activities that promote bonding and positive interactions. Finding common interests or creating structured activities that allow siblings to connect and have fun together can strengthen their relationship.  

For instance, engaging in shared interests like playing with trains or participating in basketball can create opportunities for inclusive play and enjoyable interactions among siblings. Finding common ground and promoting inclusive activities can strengthen sibling relationships and create lasting memories. 

Seek Professional Support

Consider involving therapists or counselors who specialize in supporting families with autistic children. They can provide guidance, strategies, and emotional support to both parents and siblings.  

There are also various organizations available to provide support for siblings of autistic children, such as Siblings of Autism, the Sibling Support Project, and Sibs Journey.  

These organizations offer valuable resources and assistance. Additionally, it is beneficial to explore the local resources available in your area, such as autistic sibling support groups,  respite care services, and specialized programs specifically designed to support allistic siblings.  

Mental Well-Being and Self-Care for Siblings

It is essential to prioritize the well-being of siblings. Encourage them to engage in self-care activities, such as hobbies, sports, or spending time with friends, to help alleviate stress and promote their overall mental and emotional well-being. 

It’s also important to be attentive to your allistic children’s feelings and validate them. When your child expresses frustration, acknowledge their emotions. Often siblings feel guilty communicating their frustrations with their autistic siblings, especially to their parents, because they know you are also overwhelmed. Engage in open conversations with your children about their feelings in a non-judgmental manner.   

Collaborate with your children to find positive ways to channel their emotions, such as drawing or painting. By sharing your own feelings, you help your allistic children realize that their emotions are normal. 

Manage the Children Fairly

Ensuring fairness among your children is crucial, and establishing clear family rules can help achieve this. Strive to create family rules that are fair and consistent for all your children whenever possible and implement strategies that encourage positive behavior in all your children. 

Avoid accepting aggressive or hurtful behavior from your autistic child if you wouldn’t tolerate it from your other children. Encourage all of your children to contribute to family life; sharing responsibilities within the home fosters unity and imparts essential independence skills. Tailor tasks and chores to accommodate your children’s diverse ages and strengths. 

Grow Together With Lighthouse Autism Center

Among the many autism resources available at Lighthouse Autism Center is a large community of families who deal with the dynamics and challenges laid out in this blog. Join them in their pursuit of fostering better sibling relationships through treatments like LAC’s innovative Lighthouse Fusion ABA Therapy to help their autistic children better navigate family life.  

Understanding and managing changes in behavior is essential for caregivers of autistic children. By identifying triggers and implementing effective strategies, such as ABA therapy and positive reinforcement, you can help autistic children learn to identify their triggers, self-regulate, and thrive.

Causes of Behavioral Changes in Autistic Children

It’s unreasonable to expect a child to be happy and well-behaved all the time. Every child needs to be given the freedom to feel, express, and understand their emotions; it’s a part of growing up. So, from time to time, outbursts or moments of disobedience are bound to happen. When you’re raising an autistic child, however, these instances tend to happen a lot more frequently. 

Knowing what is causing these sudden changes in behavior and finding the best ways to manage them can make the at-home situation a lot more enjoyable for everyone involved. It can also give your child valuable coping skills to take out into the world. 

This blog explores how you can identify your autistic child’s triggers, implement effective strategies to minimize them (such as ABA therapy and positive reinforcement), and how these measures can help your child learn how to spot their own triggers, self-regulate, and thrive in their daily life. 

Examples of Challenging Behavior from Autistic Children

The reason autism is considered a spectrum disorder is that it encompasses a wide range of symptoms and behaviors that can vary greatly from one individual to another. Every autistic child is unique, and so are their behaviors, strengths, and challenges. 

Challenging behaviors in autistic children often arise as a means of communication, coping mechanism, or response to environmental factors. So, it’s important to remember that these behaviors are not always intentional acts of defiance from your child but rather expressions of unmet needs or difficulties in communicating their feelings or processing the world around them.

Autistic children may exhibit a range of challenging behaviors that can vary in frequency and intensity. While the specific behaviors can differ from child to child, some common examples include:

• Tantrums and meltdowns: Intense emotional outbursts, often in response to sensory overload, changes in routine, or frustration due to communication difficulties. 
• Stimming: Self-stimulatory behaviors, or stimming, are repetitive actions such as hand-flapping, rocking, or spinning that help autistic children self-soothe. These behaviors are usually harmless, but they can interfere with your child’s ability to engage with others or focus on specific tasks. 
• Aggression: It’s not uncommon for autistic children to exhibit aggressive behaviors, such as hitting, biting, or scratching, as a way of expressing discomfort, frustration, or pain. 
• Self-injury: If an autistic child is feeling overwhelmed or overstimulated and unable to communicate their needs effectively, it can result in them turning their aggression inward and engaging in harmful behaviors like head-banging, biting, or scratching themselves. 
• Withdrawal: Social situations can be difficult for autistic children, so many of them have a tendency to withdraw from social interactions. They prefer to be alone, so they isolate or avoid eye contact and physical touch, making it challenging to build relationships and engage in social activities.

Understanding the link between autism and behavior issues and taking the time to identify what is triggering them in your child is the first step in developing strategies and techniques that can help you support and nurture them. Recognizing that these behavioral changes are often a form of communication — or rather frustration due to difficulty communicating — can help you approach them with empathy and patience.

What Are Some Causes of Behavioral Change in Autistic Children?

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurological and developmental condition that affects how people communicate, interact with others, perceive themselves, and interpret the world around them. Autistic adults and children often experience heightened sensory sensitivities, process information differently, and approach social interactions more cognitively than intuitively. 

For children with ASD, sudden behavior changes can be triggered by sensory overload, changes in their daily routine as well as certain medical conditions. By understanding what the potential triggers are, caregivers can effectively implement strategies to manage behavior and support their autistic child through challenging moments. 

What Triggers Behavioral Changes in Autistic Children?

The behavior of autistic children can vary widely, as each child’s experience exists on the broad behavioral spectrum of autism. However, there are certain factors that can commonly trigger changes in behavior. 

1. Sensory Issues

Sensory processing issues are common among most autistic children. They may be highly sensitive (hypersensitive) or under-responsive (hyposensitive) to light, sound, taste, touch, and smell. 

For example, a child can become overwhelmed in a crowded, bright, and noisy environment, resulting in a meltdown or shutdown. Or, they may seek intense sensory experiences, like spinning or rocking, in order to self-regulate. These sensory differences can significantly affect their emotional state and how they behave.  

2. Changes in Routine

Autistic children often thrive on predictability and routine. This means that they do best when they know what to expect day to day. Any changes, sometimes even minor ones, to their daily schedules or environment can be distressing and lead to behavioral changes. 

3. Medical Conditions

Some autistic children may have specific underlying medical conditions that contribute to behavioral changes. For instance, gastrointestinal issues, allergies, or sleep disorders may cause discomfort and impact their behavior negatively. 

4. Communication Difficulties

Communication difficulties can also be a great challenge for some autistic children. They may have difficulty understanding or using language. They could even struggle to focus and communicate effectively due to the sensory issues discussed above. Understandably, not being able to communicate can lead to frustration and result in challenging behaviors, such as self-injury, tantrums, and aggression. 

5. Social Challenges

Social challenges can also be a source of stress and the cause of behavioral issues for autistic children, since they may have difficulty understanding subtle social cues, micro-expressions, and emotions, as well as any form of nonverbal communication. These challenges can be incredibly frustrating and isolating for the child.  

In social settings, autistic children may engage in repetitive or self-stimulatory behaviors as a coping mechanism. They may also withdraw from social interaction altogether to avoid the complex and uncomfortable dance of human interaction. 

Recognizing Triggers

Recognizing triggers is the key to effectively managing the behavioral health of autistic children. Caregivers should pay close attention and take note of any specific circumstances or events that precede unhealthy, inappropriate, or challenging behaviors.  

Once the potential triggers have been identified, caregivers and parents can work on creating tailored strategies to minimize or avoid those behaviors and responses altogether, as well as teach new skills to support their child. 

Effective Strategies for Managing Behavioral Changes

Dealing with sudden behavior changes in autistic children calls for a holistic approach, one that considers the context, unique needs, and challenges of that particular child.  

As caregivers face inappropriate or challenging behaviors, having the right strategies becomes crucial when supporting the child’s development and well-being. 

Positive Behavior Support

Positive Behavior Support, or PBS, is a systematic approach to managing behavior that focuses on reinforcing positive behaviors and teaching new skills. PBS can be highly effective in reducing challenging behaviors and improving the child’s ability to function effectively. 

Visual Schedules

Visual schedules can help ground children in predictability by creating structure. This helps to reduce anxiety and prevent potential meltdowns. Creating a visual schedule can be as simple as a picture chart that shows the child what activities they will be doing throughout the day or more complex, such as a digital schedule that shows the child the time and location of each activity. 

Sensory Breaks

Sensory breaks can provide autistic children with a healthy way to self-regulate and calm down when they’re feeling overwhelmed and overstimulated. Sensory breaks can include activities such as listening to music, doing breathing exercises, or simply sitting in a peaceful place. Sensory supports are often recommended following an Occupational Therapist’s evaluation.  

Applied Behavior Analysis

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy is a highly effective intervention for addressing skills deficits and socially impactful behaviors of people, including children with autism. It focuses on reinforcing positive behaviors and teaching new skills. ABA programs also incorporate aspects of PBS and parent training.   

Caregiver and Parent Training

Training caregivers and parents of autistic children can be critical to managing behavioral changes and issues in these children because it can teach caregivers how to use the appropriate strategies to manage their child’s behavior. Importantly, it also provides much-needed support and resources to help guardians and caregivers cope with the complexities of raising an autistic child in a neurotypical world. 

Managing Autism and Sudden Behavior Changes With the Lighthouse Autism Center

For parents and caregivers, sudden behavior changes in their autistic children can be distressing. However, by learning how to deal with autism and behavior challenges effectively, they can profoundly affect the well-being of their autistic child. 

LAC’s innovative Lighthouse Fusion ABA Therapy, along with its extensive archive, offers valuable autism resources for parents and caregivers of autistic children. Armed with knowledge and tailored strategies, caregivers can create a nurturing and supportive environment that fosters growth and empowers their autistic child to thrive.

Creating a safe home for an autistic child is essential. We look at some of the safety and security considerations and other tips for making a safe home.

Tips for Child-Proofing and Keeping Your House Safe for an Autistic Child

Household safety is one of the primary concerns of all parents. This concern tends to escalate when babies start to crawl around the house, and baby-proofing the home becomes a priority for parents.  

Home safety for an autistic child comes with the same concerns. However, unique risks also mean that typical house safety concerns can become more serious, based on your child’s individual nature. 

In this article, we are going to look at the unique challenges in creating an autism-friendly house, why autistic children may need extra home security, and how to appropriately child-proof your home for your autistic child. 

Why Is Child-Proofing the Home a Challenge for Autistic Children?

When you’re researching tips for ASD, you’ll notice that safety is always a focal point. While all parents are constantly working to make sure that their children are cared for and safe, ensuring the safety of your autistic child at home requires a few additional steps and special considerations. 

Child-proofing can be particularly challenging for parents or caregivers with an autistic child. Autistic children tend to fixate on certain items or display sensory-seeking behaviors. They could fixate on a dangerous item, or their fixation could simply leave them unaware of the possible dangers around them. Additionally, some autistic children have a propensity to try to elope or run from their homes on a regular basis for a variety of reasons. 

As a result of this, typical safe-proofing concerns can become more serious depending on what your child is interested in. Some of the biggest concerns can include: 

• Sensory fixation on water, fire, fans, or other items. 
• Accessing dangerous items like medications, sharp objects, chemicals, and electrical outlets. 
• Climbing on furniture and then jumping, falling, or having the furniture fall on them. 
• Leaving the house through a window or door without someone knowing. 

Even with these challenges, creating an autism-friendly home can be a simple and extremely beneficial process if you know what to do. 

Make Home a Safe Space

All of the best safety precautions and autism decorating ideas in the world aren’t going to matter if the environment your child is in doesn’t feel safe, too. It’s important to foster a calm environment at home so everyone feels comfortable and relaxed. This can significantly reduce instances of overstimulation, anxiety, or disruptive behavior. A few ways you can do this are:

1. De-Clutter

Start by minimizing clutter as much as possible. Try to keep surfaces clear and organized, and use storage solutions to keep any toys, books, and other items out of sight when they are not in use. A clutter-free space is less likely to cause a sensory overload.

2. Use Calming Colors

Colors can profoundly affect our emotions and behaviors. Certain colors can be particularly soothing or stimulating for autistic children. To create a peaceful atmosphere, try incorporating soft, neutral tones like pastels, blues, greens, and earthy shades into your home. While you’re doing this, make sure you involve your child in the decoration choices. This can help them feel more in control of the situation and can give you a better idea of what colors they like or don’t like. 

3. Incorporate Natural Elements

Introduce elements of nature into your home, such as potted plants, natural light, and nature-inspired decor. Nature has a way of grounding us, so these elements can have a calming effect and help create a soothing environment.

4. Create a Sense of Calm With Soft Lighting

Try to avoid harsh, bright lights. Instead, use soft, diffused lighting with dimmer switches or lamps. You could even consider using string lights or salt lamps for a gentle, calming glow. Some calming music can also be a great way to help your child relax and refocus.

5. Incorporate Familiarity

Make sure to keep your child’s favorite toys, blankets, and other comfort items easily accessible. Familiar objects can provide a sense of security and comfort in your child’s environment. Having access to familiar items can help your child feel more at ease and provide a sense of stability in their surroundings.

Use Home Safety as a Learning Opportunity

The first step to creating a safe environment for an autistic child is to use your home as a learning environment. While removing your child from dangerous situations is important, it’s also a good idea to teach them home safety like you would any other skill.  

Use positive reinforcement when your child performs a home safety skill correctly or when they refrain from doing something that you’ve taught them is unsafe. Remember to keep home safety steps short and simple. 

You can use the usual tools that would be used in a therapy session or when teaching them skills at home, such as visual rules, checklists, signs, stories, and schedules. Choose whatever it is that your child has had success with in other settings in the past.  

Some ideas for ASD-friendly elements in your home include: 

Label Everyday Items

When you want to child-proof a home for an autistic child, using visual aids like photos, words, colors, and textures to label everyday appliances, furniture, rooms, drawers, etc., can be very beneficial. Labels will help your child to more easily associate the items with where they go or what their purpose is. Labels also increase the likelihood of your child using something for its intended purpose and discourage unsafe behaviors. 

Create Visual Boundaries and Limits

Telling your child not to walk out the front door isn’t always enough. Using visuals can help you relay the message more clearly. For example, you could place stop signs on doors that lead outside or to stairs or on drawers that they shouldn’t open. Or you could mark the floor around hazardous furniture with painter’s tape to show the areas where they shouldn’t walk. 

Keep Things Organized and in place

Autistic children are often creatures of habit and structure. Keeping things tidy and in their place means children will know where to find things and where to put them once they are done. This will lead to less frustration, thereby reducing outbursts and making them less likely to engage in unsafe or disruptive behaviors. 

Home Modifications for Autistic Children

If you’re wondering how to make your home autism-friendly, here are some of the modifications that you can make:  

• Move furniture away from where kids could climb it. Instead, invest in sensory-appropriate climbing furniture products to encourage safer behaviors.  
• Ensure that all furniture is mounted to the floor or wall. 
• Use gates and barriers at the top and bottom of stairs to keep your children from climbing them or potentially falling down them. 
• Put all medications and unsafe items out of reach. 
• Put rubber bumpers on the sharp edges of counters or furniture. 
• Hide wires or place them out of reach. 
• Lock away cleaning supplies, toiletries, and other products that contain hazardous chemicals. 
• Educate your child about fire safety through stories about smoke detectors and safety routines. Lock away all matches and lighters. 
• Put covers on electrical outlets and protection on door knobs, cabinet handles, faucets, etc. 
• Add sensors to areas that your child should not be in, so you are aware of where they are in your home. 

Home Security

As mentioned, some autistic children are known to try to wander off and leave their houses, so home security is another aspect to consider if you have an autistic child. This can include: 

Install Locks and Sensors

Install locks or sensors on the home’s doors, windows, and cabinets. Autistic children are resourceful, so investing in a high-quality locking system is worth it. It is even possible to get special autism safety door locks. 

Safely Store Away Potentially Hazardous Items

Lock and store potential hazards like paint, fertilizer, and cleaners somewhere out of your child’s day-to-day environment, such as the garage or basement. 

Install Sensory-Friendly Alarms

Install alarms on their bedroom door, doors leading outside, and windows. Of course, keep in mind that a blaring alarm could be intolerable for a child with sensory issues. Usually, the alarm can be tailored to your child’s specific needs. 

Explain “Stranger Danger”

Chances are that your child will open the door when it rings at some stage in their life. It’s important to teach them the importance of learning who they can trust and the dangers of opening the door to strangers. Allistic (non-autistic) children are more likely to be able to read people’s intentions, whereas autistic children tend to be naturally trusting. This is an important lesson they can take into adulthood, too. 

Always Have An Emergency Plan in Place

It’s critical that you have an emergency plan in place should something happen. The first port of call should always be to phone 911 and alert the appropriate authorities. All of the relevant emergency numbers should also be easily accessible. Display them in an easy-to-reach area and keep them on hand around your house and in your vehicles. Providing your child a safety bracelet with their name and emergency contact details may also be useful. If they do not like the feeling of a bracelet, then provide a laminated card with emergency contact numbers for them to keep at all times or label each piece of their clothing with the same information. 

If your child has a history of elopement or unsafe behaviors in the home, contact your local police department so they know who your child is, where you live, what your child might do, and where they might go based on past experiences. It is always easier to communicate this information proactively, rather than in a crisis situation.  

Create a Quiet Space for Your Autistic Child at Home

When you’re creating a home for an autistic child, remember that they are more likely to act out when they become overstimulated. When this happens, they will need a safe time-out space to calm down and refocus. 

Instead of punishing them with a time-out in a corner, create a dedicated quiet space where they can go to have time to themselves, enjoy a moment of peace and quiet, or engage in whatever self-soothing strategies work for them. If you continually direct them to this space when they get overstimulated, you teach them a better way to cope with and handle stress. Make the space soft, neutral, and welcoming with your child’s favorite toys. 

Get the Best for You and Your Child with LAC

At Lighthouse Autism Center, we equip our learners and their caretakers with the tools and strategies needed to enhance growth and development through our Lighthouse fusion ABA therapy. We also offer a wide array of the best autism resources and information for our clients to turn to in order to help your child take the important next step in their journey. or our clients to turn to and help your child take the important next step in their journey. 

Handling inappropriate behavior from autistic children can be challenging, especially in public settings. With the right strategies and understanding, it’s possible to effectively manage and address these behaviors in a way that supports the child’s needs and promotes their well-being.

How To Handle Socially Inappropriate Behavior in Public

Growing up, we are all taught what behavior is suitable for a public setting and what behavior isn’t. Proper manners, polite communication, and understanding social cues are ingrained in us from an early age. We’re told to say “please” and “thank you,” to wait our turns, to be mindful of others’ feelings, and we learn what behaviors are socially acceptable and which aren’t. While for allistic people, these lessons seem straightforward and soon become second nature, for autistic children, these seemingly straightforward expectations can become complex challenges. 

Autistic children experience the world differently. They are more sensitive to sensory input like loud noises, bright lights, and crowded spaces, and communication can often be a challenge. So, instances like outbursts or socially inappropriate behavior are common because their ways of coping with overwhelming situations are different. Even as caregivers, it is often difficult to differentiate between common autistic behaviors and misbehavior. 

With the right strategies and understanding of autistic behavior, challenging behaviors can be effectively identified, addressed, and managed. This guide will provide practical tips for parents, caregivers, and educators on navigating and supporting autistic children in public settings. 

Understanding Autism and Inappropriate Behavior

Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by social communication challenges, sensory sensitivities, and repetitive behaviors. Socially inappropriate behavior in autistic children may manifest in various forms. Some examples of inappropriate behavior include meltdowns, self-stimulatory behaviors, aggression, and non-compliance. It is essential to recognize that these behaviors are often communication tools used by the child to express their needs, discomfort, or anxiety and are not just naughtiness or misbehavior. 

Being able to recognize that these behaviors are often rooted in your child’s desire to communicate something to you can help you respond to these behaviors with more understanding, empathy, and patience. It shifts the perspective from viewing the behavior as a problem to understanding it as a signal that your child needs support. This not only makes dealing with challenging behavior more manageable in the moment but can help you identify common triggers.

When you understand what is causing the socially inappropriate behavior and respond with empathy and effective strategies, you can create a more supportive environment for your child to experience the world. Early intervention and consistent support can also significantly improve your child’s ability to navigate social situations and reduce the frequency and intensity of inappropriate behaviors in the future. 

Unique Challenges Faced by Autistic Children in Public Settings

Public settings can be overwhelming for an autistic child with behavioral problems due to sensory overload, unpredictable social interactions, and rigid expectations. These challenges can lead to heightened anxiety and an increased likelihood of exhibiting inappropriate social behaviors. It is crucial to consider these factors when addressing and managing their behavior. 

Here are some of the key challenges faced by autistic children. 

Sensory Overload

Public places can be overwhelming for autistic children due to increased sensory stimuli, such as loud noises, bright lights, crowded spaces, and unfamiliar smells. These sensory inputs can lead to sensory overload and trigger anxiety or meltdowns. 

Communication Barriers

Autistic children may have challenges with expressive and receptive communication skills. In public settings, they may struggle to express their needs, desires, or discomfort, leading to frustration or misunderstandings. There is also a link between autism and saying inappropriate things because they may not fully grasp social norms or the nuances of language.

Social Interactions

Engaging in social interactions can be challenging for autistic children. They may find it difficult to interpret social cues, understand non-verbal communication, or initiate and maintain conversations. This can result in feelings of isolation or difficulty making friends. 

Unpredictability and Changes

Public settings often involve unpredictable situations, such as unexpected changes in routines, transitions, or disruptions in the environment. Autistic children rely on structure and predictability, so these unexpected changes can cause anxiety and distress. 

Sensory Seeking or Avoidance Behaviors

Autistic children may exhibit sensory seeking or avoidance behaviors in public settings. Some may seek sensory input by engaging in repetitive movements or self-stimulatory (stimming) behaviors, while others may try to avoid certain sensory experiences by covering their ears, avoiding touch, or withdrawing from the environment. 

Lack of Understanding and Acceptance

The general public may not always understand or be accepting of autistic behavior. This can lead to judgment, stares, or comments from others, creating a challenging and potentially uncomfortable environment for both the child and their caregivers. 

Practical Strategies for Addressing Inappropriate Behavior

Handling autism and bad behavior requires patience, understanding, and a proactive approach. Here are some practical tips on how to prepare for, deal with, and avoid future socially inappropriate public behavior.  

Identify Triggers

Observe when and where challenging behaviors are most likely to occur. Recognize specific people, locations, times of the day, or sensory experiences that may contribute to the behaviors. Provide appropriate sensory tools or strategies, such as noise-canceling headphones or sensory breaks, to help them regulate their sensory input and prevent sensory overload. 

Teach Skills in Controlled Environments

Take advantage of situations outside of public settings to teach and reinforce socially appropriate behavior skills. Practice walking together, waiting in line, sharing toys, or tolerating transitions when demands are minimal. 

Communication and Social Skills Training

Teach the child alternative ways to express their needs and emotions through effective communication strategies. Social skills training can help them navigate social interactions more smoothly. 

Establish Clear Expectations

Set clear and consistent rules and routines, using visual supports such as visual schedules, videos, or social stories, to help the child understand what is expected of them in public settings. Visual cues can help individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) understand expectations and provide a sense of structure and predictability. 

Prepare for Outings

Plan ahead by researching unfamiliar locations and communicating with staff or facility personnel about specific needs or challenges. Familiarize the individual with the environment through virtual tours, pictures, or videos. 

Gradual Exposure

Begin with short trips or visits to help the individual become familiar with new environments and social interactions. Bring along preferred toys or activities to provide comfort and enjoyment during outings. 

Incorporate Breaks and Sensory Regulation

Individuals with ASD may benefit from taking breaks or finding a calm space when engaging in activities outside their comfort zone. Establish a communication system to indicate the need for breaks or assistance. 

Redirect and Distract

If socially inappropriate behavior arises, gently redirect the child’s attention to a more appropriate activity or provide them with a sensory tool or object that can help redirect their focus. 

Stay Calm and Supportive

Knowing how to reduce aggressive behavior in an autistic child can be particularly difficult in the moment. Respond to challenging behaviors with patience and understanding. Remaining calm can help de-escalate the situation. Find a safe and quiet space if necessary, and consider involving supportive family members or friends for assistance. 

Calming Strategies

Teach the child calming techniques, such as deep breathing exercises or self-soothing strategies, to help them regulate their emotions and manage anxiety in public settings. 

Reinforcement and Positive Behavior Support

Implement a system of positive reinforcement to encourage appropriate behavior. Use praise, rewards, or a token system to reinforce desired behaviors, providing motivation and encouragement for the child. 

Advocate and Educate

Educate others about autism and the challenges faced by autistic children in public settings. Raise awareness by carrying a card explaining autism-related behaviors to share with others who may not understand. This can promote understanding and reduce potential misunderstandings or judgment. 

Seek Professional Support

Collaborate with professionals, such as behavioral therapists or occupational therapists, who can provide additional guidance and strategies tailored to the child’s specific needs. 

Collaborate with Lighthouse Autism Center

It is essential to remember that each autistic child is unique, and strategies should be tailored to their individual needs. LAC’s innovative Lighthouse Fusion ABA Therapy, combined with its large archive of autism resources, is the perfect foundation on which to build an understanding of your autistic child’s needs. 

Autistic children are often labeled as picky eaters, but the truth is that they face a unique set of challenges that can make mealtimes extremely stressful. Discover helpful tips on introducing new foods into your child’s diet to make mealtimes more nutritional and enjoyable for everyone at the table.

Tips for Introducing New Foods and Healthy Eating

Autism and food aversions often go hand-in-hand. Children on the autism spectrum are notoriously selective about the foods they consume. And, usually, this isn’t simply because they’re picky eaters. Their combination of sensory sensitivities and preferences for routine can turn mealtime into a real challenge. A nutritious, balanced diet is essential for growth, development, and overall well-being. So, what can you do if your child won’t eat their food? 

If you’re tired of googling “best foods for picky eaters” and feeling like you’re hitting a wall, it may be time to consider a different strategy. 

Autism and Picky Eating: Why Are Autistic Children So Selective About Food?

Of course, you already understand the importance of consuming a well-rounded diet with a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats. Recent studies have shown that children with autism-related symptoms are five times more likely to demonstrate atypical eating behaviors, including narrow food selections, ritualistic eating behavior, and meal-related tantrums, which can make getting the necessary nutrients a challenge. 

Autistic people may be sensitive to the taste, smell, color, and texture of foods. Because of this, they may limit or avoid particular foods or even whole food groups. As the parent or guardian, you’re then faced with the task of managing their dietary preferences and being supportive while still trying to make sure they’re getting all of the nutrients they need. This can be a fine line to walk, but with care, sensitivity, and the right approach, you can help your autistic child develop a more balanced and nutritious diet.

Read on to learn how to expand your child’s food choices by addressing underlying anxiety, inflexibility, and sensory issues. There are also some great picky eater tips for parents to help reduce problematic mealtime behaviors and the stress that accompanies them. You might even be inspired with a few school lunch ideas.

Autism Eating Habits: Picky Eating vs. Food Rejection

While it’s common for autism to affect your child’s eating habits, it’s important to understand that there is a significant difference between what is colloquially considered “picky eating” and the unique challenges that children on the autism spectrum face. Most children, especially toddlers, go through stages where they refuse certain foods because of taste, smell, or texture. Generally, this is something they grow out of. 

Autistic children, however, aren’t just “being difficult.” Problematic mealtime behaviors may be a result of sensory issues, underdeveloped oral motor musculature (which makes certain textures troublesome), GI issues they aren’t able to communicate, the need for routine, or challenges with trying new things in general.

Another factor that contributes to the idea that autistic children are picky eaters is the myth of “high functioning autism,” which suggests that an individual who excels academically or is socially competent has “high function.” However, autistic children with high intelligence or excellent social skills are still likely to struggle with daily tasks like brushing their teeth, making decisions, or telling time. When children seen as “high functioning” struggle with eating certain foods, their behavior can be misconstrued as merely “being difficult.”

If left untreated, unhealthy mealtime behaviors may continue to escalate. Parents are often overwhelmed by a number of challenges at the same time. These issues may take precedence over feeding difficulties, and parents may find themselves relying on the few foods their child is willing to eat to avoid negative backlash. The longer feeding issues are allowed to continue, however, the more difficult and time-consuming it may be to help your child develop healthy eating habits.

Everyone knows how challenging changing your eating habits can be, and this is especially true for autistic children. Because they may hyper-focus on certain foods while refusing to try others, both behavioral therapy and nutritional therapy may be necessary. This will help adjust symptoms that may otherwise become maladaptive behaviors, as well as ensure you are working toward a well-balanced diet.

Ruling Out Medical Issues

Common gastrointestinal issues associated with food rejection include acid reflux, constipation, diarrhea, and eosinophilic esophagitis. Autistic children are just as likely to suffer the same GI disorders as other children, but the difference is that they may not be able to localize or verbalize their discomfort. If a child senses or fears that a specific food may trigger pain, they are likely to refuse it, become suspicious of it, or throw tantrums. 

This makes it important for parents to be proactive in discovering the source of their child’s discomfort. A pediatric gastroenterologist can help rule out medical issues.

Techniques for Expanding Your Child’s Diet

1. Start Small

Your child most likely has a select few favorite foods. When you’re figuring out how to try new foods in your child’s diet or previously rejected foods, you can create a positive association by introducing minuscule amounts of these foods alongside their pre-established favorites. The first time, they may not necessarily eat the food, but they can still get used to its presence and appearance. Even if they don’t want to try it, you can encourage them to touch, smell, and explore the food. The next time, you might ask them to try a single bite and praise them for being willing to try.

2. Try Desensitization Practices

If your child has strongly rejected a certain food, but you feel it is necessary as part of a healthy diet, or it’s a staple in your household, you’ll need to reintroduce the food even more slowly, using a desensitizing technique. For example, if your child hates apples, start by placing apples in the house. Next, bring an apple into the room during playtime. This way, they can get used to the food without having to eat it. 

After a while, you might place some apples on the table during meals without requiring them to touch or eat them. Next, put a slice of apple on their plate. When they are okay with the apple slice on their plate and their original feelings of aversion have been resolved, invite them to try a bite.

3. Offer Choices and Control

No one likes to be told what to eat, and sometimes, your child will simply not like a certain food — this is completely natural. To accommodate this and give your child the opportunity to exercise healthy control, offer a wide variety of choices (within the necessary categories that form a well-balanced meal) and allow them to decide. 

For instance, when choosing dinner, allow your child to choose one ingredient from a variety of vegetables, starches, and proteins. If you’re making a curry, stew, or pasta dish, ask them to add one “mystery” ingredient to the dish for the other family members to discover. They might choose chicken, broccoli, or beans, for instance.

4. Adjust Textures

Hypersensitivity to textures is a common occurrence in people on the spectrum and can show up during mealtimes. Often, it’s the way a food feels in the mouth, not its flavor, that produces a strong aversion to certain foods. The crunchy texture of an apple or the squishy texture of a freshly sliced tomato is a classic example. Luckily, there are a multitude of ways to prepare foods and also a variety of healthy substitutes. Pears, for example, are much softer than apples, and apples could also be served stewed. Tomatoes can be blended or chopped finely into salsa or cooked into a sauce and served over pasta or as a dip for potato wedges.

One of the best ways to get picky eaters to eat veggies is to prepare them in a new and exciting way or work them into other dishes where they are not as easily distinguishable. For example, you could grate zucchini into oatmeal, add broccoli to homemade chicken nuggets, or blend leafy greens into smoothies without anyone noticing.

5. Set Realistic Goals

Mealtimes shouldn’t be a battleground, so be sure to manage your emotions, adjust your expectations, and set realistic goals. Many children need to taste a food more than a dozen times before they’re willing to eat it without any fuss. Autistic children with food aversions may take longer, so be sure to practice patience and create a safe environment for your child to explore new foods. 

There are likely a number of behaviors that require some practice when it comes to mealtimes, so rather than trying to correct them all within a single meal, break them into individual goals. Then, prioritize those goals and address them one at a time. Are you trying to increase the variety of foods your child consumes? The amount they eat? Correct disruptive behavior at the table? Identify your primary target, make the target known to both your child and other caretakers, and focus meals on progressing in that area. 

If, for instance, your child barely eats two or three bites at a meal, it’s unreasonable to expect them to clear their plate, and it’s probably not the best time to start introducing new or previously rejected foods. Instead, try increasing their intake by one bite per meal, and be sure to praise their success rather than piling more expectations on them because you think the meal is going well.

Lastly, expect a certain amount of resistance. This might include crying or whining, verbal aggression, and/or disruptive behaviors. The presence of these things doesn’t mean you’re not making progress, so adjust your expectations accordingly and don’t give up or give in.

Other things that can help reduce anxiety around mealtimes include:

• Role modeling healthy eating behaviors.
• Consistent and enjoyable mealtime routines.
• Making changes to how you prepare and/or present previously rejected foods.
• Playing with and exploring new and/or previously rejected foods.
• Praising every sign of progress, no matter how small.

Take A Multifaceted Approach

Like many things, it may take a multifaceted approach to see a significant difference when it comes to picky eating and autism. With time, consistency, and patience, however, you and your little one are sure to experience incredible progress.