Promoting Mental Health in Children with ASD
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While mental health for adults is something that is discussed frequently, it is more of a challenge with children, especially those who may be nonverbal and therefore unable to express how they might be feeling. With that in mind, here are some tips on how to support mental health in children with autism:
Foster Emotional Intelligence
Help your child develop emotional intelligence by teaching them to recognize, express, and manage their emotions. For children with stronger language abilities, you might start with the “big” emotions, such as anger, fear, sadness, etc. When you notice emotions are present, work with your child to identify those emotions.
Using Visual Aids for Nonverbal Children
For children who are nonverbal (or less verbal when emotional), a visual aid can be helpful. Prompt them to indicate which emotions are affecting them at the moment. It is likely that when you start this work, your child might have trouble understanding what they are feeling, beyond generally “bad”, but you can help by explaining what the particular emotion feels like in the body or what makes you feel that emotion. Check out our free emotions chart printable!
Create a Safe Environment
Children need to feel safe and secure at home and in their relationships. You can help by listening to your child and validating their feelings and experiences. Beyond that, you can create a calm space for your child, space permitting. We have written previously about how to create this kind of space. Check out our guide on Creating Calm Spaces For Your Child for a step-by-step guide! This is a great place for your child to escape to when their emotions get too big or when they’re feeling overwhelmed or overstimulated.
Encourage Healthy Habits
This advice will sound familiar, which is because it’s the same self-care guidance adults always receive. Physical and mental health are interconnected, so encouraging healthy habits can help promote mental well-being. Make sure your child gets enough sleep, eats a healthy diet, and engages in some kind of physical activity. Even just running around a local park or your backyard can be enough to help your child stay active!
Limiting Screen Time
Additionally, work on limiting screen time. Many children with autism use tablets or phones as communication devices, and that’s fantastic! However, too much screen time during times of leisure can negatively impact their mood, sleep, and cognitive development. You can help by encouraging alternate activities such as reading, drawing, playing outside, or spending time with family and friends.
Seek Professional Help When Needed
Seek professional help when needed: Sometimes, you just can’t fix everything in-home. Rates of anxiety and depression are significantly higher in individuals with autism than in their neurotypical peers. If you believe your child might be dealing with some issues that go beyond the scope of what’s expected with an ASD diagnosis, please don’t hesitate to seek outside help. Your child’s pediatrician or neurologist should be able to direct you to a mental health professional who specializes in children with special needs.
Supporting Your Child’s Mental Health
In conclusion, your child’s mental health is something that needs to be monitored as closely as their physical health. It can seem like a daunting task, but by following these steps, you can help your child reduce stress, limit instances of concerning behaviors or acting out, and set habits that will serve them throughout their entire life.
