My World ABA provides comprehensive autism services for children with autism in Springfield, MO, and surrounding areas from ages 18 months to 21 years old. Our goal is to foster growth so that every child we see has a chance to reach their full potential while incorporating kindness into everything we do.
Together, we can help your child thrive in an environment where they can live and grow at their own pace. One goal is to help your child mature into more grown-up activities whenever they are ready.
Read our guide on how to know when your child is ready to move into more grown-up activities. One thing to remember is that everyone develops at their own pace.
Table of Contents
The Importance of Independence in People With Autism
As a parent, you want to help your child blossom and grow into the young adult you know they can be. Being independent is important to everyone as they grow. For children with autism, maturing may come with extra challenges that are not insurmountable.
Learning to navigate the world on their own terms allows your child with autism in Springfield, MO, to feel empowered and capable. By building independence, they gain a greater sense of control over their lives, which reduces anxiety and increases their ability to engage with the world around them.
Life skills are vital when children grow into teenagers and then adults. Tasks like managing personal hygiene, budgeting, and cooking provide essential self-care tools. Being able to handle daily responsibilities also allows them to contribute meaningfully to society, whether in a work setting or within their community.
Most importantly for children with autism, independence promotes social inclusion. People with autism who develop independent living skills are more likely to build friendships, participate in social activities, and connect with their peers. This not only enriches their social networks but also helps develop close personal relationships that nurture and edify them.
Be Patient
One key aspect of helping your child mature and grow is not setting any expectations. A child with autism is ready whenever they are ready, not when the world expects them to be ready. This takes patience, understanding, and nurturing.
You, as a parent, know your child best. You can prepare for triggers before they happen. You also understand the quirks of their behavior as they move through daily tasks, attending school, doing homework, and interacting with others.
You are keenly aware of any change in your child’s behavior and attitudes. You notice if a trigger isn’t as overwhelming as before. You might see that your child doesn’t get as upset as they used to.
Whether these changes happened in a few weeks or a few years, you see steady improvements over time. Then, you start to wonder if your child is ready for more advanced or grown-up activities.
Although every child is different, there are some key milestones to look for in your child’s development to see if they are prepared for more grown-up activities.
Key Milestones to Look For
One key milestone for your child with autism in Springfield, MO, is emotional maturity. Children who show an ability to manage their emotions, solve problems, and handle frustration are typically better equipped to take on increased responsibility. Emotional regulation helps them navigate challenges with greater patience and resilience, which is essential for more adult-like tasks.
Another vital indicator is responsibility. If your child is consistently completing chores, taking care of their belongings, showing more responsibility with pets, or demonstrating accountability in schoolwork, they are likely ready for more grown-up activities. This sense of responsibility signals that they are capable of understanding the consequences of their actions and can manage expectations. It’s a sign that they can be trusted with bigger tasks or more freedom.
Social skills are also a vital milestone. When children are able to engage in healthy, respectful interactions with peers and adults, it’s a sign of maturity. These social competencies allow them to navigate more complex environments, such as extracurricular activities or community events, with increased independence. Positive social interactions help them build relationships, manage conflict, and cooperate with others.
Other milestones to look for include:
- Emotional regulation and problem-solving
- Consistent responsibility with tasks and chores
- Social competence and healthy peer interactions
- Ability to manage time and follow through with commitments
- Willingness to accept feedback and make improvements
Communication Skills
Communication skills for a child with autism in Springfield, MO, offer a critical glimpse into your youngster’s growth. One major sign your child is ready for more grown-up responsibilities is the ability to express thoughts and feelings clearly. Children who can articulate their needs, desires, and concerns are better equipped to handle situations that require negotiation, compromise, or explaining their actions. This clarity in communication is essential as they take on more complex roles or responsibilities.
Listening skills are another key indicator of communication readiness. A child who actively listens, understands instructions, and follows through without constant reminders demonstrates a higher level of maturity. Good listening is crucial for navigating more adult-like environments, where tasks and social dynamics often require focus and responsiveness.
Another aspect of communication skills is the ability to engage in conversations that involve problem-solving or critical thinking. When children can contribute ideas, ask meaningful questions, and offer solutions during discussions, it reflects their readiness to participate in more advanced activities. These communication skills enable them to handle responsibilities at school, extracurriculars, or social events with greater independence and confidence.
Communication milestones include:
- Clear expression of thoughts, needs, and emotions
- Active listening and following instructions
- Ability to engage in problem-solving conversations
- Asking thoughtful questions and offering solutions
- Understanding and respecting nonverbal cues
Examples of When Your Child Is Ready
Beyond communication, socialization, and responsibility, there are some everyday examples to look out for when your child is ready for more grown-up activities.
Increased Independence
Children with autism often show increased independence through daily tasks and routines as they grow emotionally mature. For instance, they may begin managing personal hygiene without reminders or start preparing simple meals like cereal or sandwiches on their own. These actions demonstrate their ability to take responsibility for self-care, which is an essential step toward emotional growth and self-reliance.
Look for your child to handle changes in routine with less frustration, showing improved emotional regulation. They may also express their feelings more clearly or use coping strategies when stressed, reflecting their ability to manage emotions independently.
Problem-Solving Skills
Improving their problem-solving skills as they mature can manifest in several ways. For example, your child with autism may begin resolving minor conflicts with peers or siblings on their own rather than relying on adults to mediate. This demonstrates their growing ability to think critically and navigate social challenges independently.
Solving practical problems, like organizing toys or completing tasks without step-by-step guidance, represents another way to show independence. These problem-solving skills help build their confidence and ability to handle daily responsibilities more effectively.
Emotional Maturity
Children with autism often display emotional maturity through their ability to manage feelings more independently. For instance, they may start calming themselves during moments of frustration or anxiety by using techniques like deep breathing or taking a break. This self-regulation shows a higher level of emotional control and readiness to navigate more complex social and personal situations.
Your youngster might begin to express their feelings in healthier ways, such as talking about their emotions instead of acting out. This ability to communicate emotions clearly reflects growing emotional maturity and independence.
Supporting the Transition
It’s perfectly normal for parents to have mixed feelings about seeing their children mature. On the one hand, you are excited and proud that your child is ready for the next steps in their development. On the other hand, you might feel worried or anxious that your child might not be as ready as you think.
Luckily, you can support the transition as your child navigates more complex tasks and adult responsibilities.
How to Provide Guidance & Supervision
Your child is ready to navigate some new tasks in their world. Just like the items they’ve already mastered, children with autism enjoy a routine and structure. Set clear expectations by outlining tasks step-by-step and offering visual aids or written instructions if needed. This structured approach helps them understand what’s required and builds their confidence in managing new responsibilities.
Additionally, offer consistent, positive feedback as they progress. Encourage independence by allowing them to attempt tasks on their own while remaining available for support. Gradually reduce supervision as they become more confident, but continue to provide reassurance and guidance when needed, fostering their independence without overwhelming them.
One way to do this is by doing another task in the same room. For example, your child is ready to start feeding the family pet every day. You can be working on preparing food in the kitchen or doing laundry while your child feeds the family pet. That way, you’re nearby in case of any difficulties.
Offer Help When Needed
Fostering your child’s independence means offering help when needed without taking over tasks entirely. Encourage them to attempt activities on their own first and step in only when they face challenges or ask for assistance. This approach fosters independence while ensuring they feel supported and understood.
When offering help, focus on guiding them through the problem rather than solving it for them. Ask questions or suggest strategies to help them think critically and find solutions. This builds their problem-solving skills and confidence while still providing the necessary support when they need it while reducing frustration.
Back to the task of taking care of a pet, let’s say your child tries to pour dry dog kibble out of a big bag but can’t lift the new bag all the way after opening it. Encourage them to use a dedicated scoop or plastic container to lift food out of the bag rather than trying to pour the dog food out.
It’s vital to have the same positive attitude and positive reinforcement when being patient with these new tasks. If your child feels frustrated or starts to feel overwhelmed, you may need to step in with assistance and encouragement.
Encourage Practice & Repetition
As with all tasks, practice and repetition make permanent. They also reduce frustration. Mastering some tasks may take time. But as with all things, the end results will be worth it.
Practice Skills to Lead Up to Independence
Practicing the skills children need to gain independence on certain tasks that lead to independence is essential. Break down tasks into smaller, manageable steps that they can repeat until they become routine. Encourage daily practice of these tasks, whether it’s feeding a pet, engaging in a new hobby, or managing money. Repetition helps reinforce the steps needed to perform tasks independently.
As they master each skill, gradually introduce more complex tasks, offering guidance only when necessary. Allow them to take small risks and make mistakes, as these are valuable learning opportunities. Over time, this practice will build their confidence and independence.
Positive Reinforcement
Our ABA therapy practice is built on positive reinforcement. Studies show that positive reinforcement is vital to the development and success of children with autism.
Always offer encouragement, even when your child gets frustrated or when dealing with new tasks. As painter Bob Ross used to say, there are no mistakes, only happy accidents. That’s why you should ease into grown-up tasks. If your child spills the pet food, say that’s okay, we can clean it up, or perhaps say that Rex or Fluffy will love the extra food.
Types of Activities
What types of activities would be more grown-up as your child matures? Here are some grown-up activities and how to ease your child into them as they become more self-sufficient.
As with all complex tasks, it’s important to start slow and keep things simple at first before getting into more advanced activities.
Cooking & Preparing Food
Start with recipes that have simple instructions and not a lot of ingredients. Parfaits, salads, and ice cream sundaes are great if you think your child isn’t ready to use a stovetop or oven yet. Learning to cook can foster your child’s healthy eating habits for a lifetime.
If you think it’s time to get cooking in the oven or on the stovetop, consider pancakes with mixes that only need water or cake batter that just needs water and eggs. Scrambled eggs are another great choice because they are easy to make and require precise temperature and timing on the stovetop. Ground beef meals like chili might have just a few ingredients.
You might avoid meals with high heat or lots of noise, like pan-searing meats or putting smoothies in a blender. That’s only if your child doesn’t like loud noises or sudden bursts of hot oil coming off the pan.
Shopping
Start by discussing the shopping process at home, explaining the purpose of shopping and what items you may need. Create a simple shopping list together, using visuals or pictures if helpful. This not only helps your child understand what to expect but also provides a concrete task to focus on during the shopping trip.
When you’re at the store, guide them through each step, such as finding items on the list, using a shopping cart, and paying at the register. Use role-playing or practice runs to build their confidence in navigating the environment. Encourage them to ask questions or seek help when needed, like if they can’t find something on the shelf, to foster communication skills.
At some point, when you feel your child is old enough, you can split the shopping list in two. You can take a cart, and your child will have one. Stay in communication through cellphones if there are any questions or difficulties.
Cleaning the House
Cleaning the house is the same way. Start with your child’s room. Can they keep it neat and tidy? Can they dust and vacuum? Do they make their bed every morning?
Keep things simple throughout the house by having them focus on a single task. For example, dusting is a fairly easy house-cleaning chore (even though it may take some time). Explain how to use the dust cloth, what surfaces need to be dusted, and why we dust in the first place.
Once they master dusting for a few weeks, perhaps move them to doing dishes or mopping the kitchen floor. If your child with autism doesn’t like loud noises, avoid having them operate the vacuum cleaner.
Again, patience is the key here. Your youngster may not feel like completing the task all the way through. Maybe they like one task over another. Go with what works. If your child loves doing dishes rather than dusting, so perhaps start with the dishes.
Managing Money
When we talk about managing money, we mean more than just understanding of how to count coins and currency. Having your child go grocery shopping with you is an excellent way to introduce the concept of how to manage money.
Begin by discussing how parents make money and how they spend it. Introduce the concept of budgeting. Then, start your child with an allowance. This is a great skill to intertwine with doing chores around the house as a way to foster independence through positive reinforcement.
Involve your child in simple financial tasks, such as budgeting for a small shopping trip or saving for a desired item. Create a visual budget to track their spending and savings goals. Encourage them to practice handling money in real-life situations, such as paying for items at the store or using an allowance.
Providing positive reinforcement and ongoing support will build their confidence in managing money, preparing them for more complex financial decisions as they grow. Talk about the importance of setting financial goals, not spending more than you have, using a debit card, and saving money at a bank.
Having a Hobby
Starting a hobby can be a rewarding experience, and it can enhance their independence and social skills while providing a sense of accomplishment without any pressure. That’s because hobbies are supposed to be pure fun!
Start by exploring different activities together based on your child’s interests. If your child loves art, consider drawing, painting, or sculpting. Do you have a science nerd in your home? Consider buying a telescope, physics set, or other fun science set. Or, maybe they love spending time outdoors and photographing things, so maybe a digital camera is in order. Allow your child to experiment with various hobbies to find what resonates most with them, promoting self-expression and creativity.
Once they choose a hobby, create a routine that includes dedicated time for practicing or enjoying this activity. Offer guidance and support as they learn new skills, but also encourage them to take the lead and make decisions about their hobby. This autonomy helps build their confidence and problem-solving abilities. Additionally, consider connecting them with community groups or classes related to their hobby, which can foster social interactions and friendships in their peer group.
Using a Cellphone
Using a cellphone takes a measure of responsibility. Set limits on cellphone usage, and perhaps have parental blocks on it to prevent browsing the internet to objectionable sites. Consider installing an app that connects to your phone that allows you to monitor your child’s phone usage.
Teach your child with autism the right way to use a cellphone, how to charge it, and how to make an emergency call. Explain that there might be rules about cellphone use in your child’s school.
Download games and apps that keep your child occupied but also informed. There are plenty of fun and educational apps out there that can help your child learn new skills or concepts. The possibilities are endless, and the tools available are at your child’s fingertips.
You can combine using a cellphone with managing money. For example, make it a financial goal to earn enough allowance to pay for the cellphone bill every month.
Driving a Car
Of all of the grown-up activities that a child can participate in, driving a car is, perhaps, the most daunting. It’s a big step for a teenager, and it comes with massive responsibilities. Driving can lead to sensory overload for some people with autism simply because there is so much to pay attention to. There might be honking cars, sirens, and other loud noises. If these all happen at once, it might not be a pleasant situation.
Start easy, in a large empty parking lot early in the morning or on private property, to get your child used to the controls of a car. Go over the routine of starting the car, backing up, moving forward, turning, and parking. Break down these skills into manageable bits. And always use positive reinforcement to encourage learning!
Once your child feels comfortable with these basics, it’s time get a learner’s permit. The learner’s permit will likely require a parent or driving instructor to be in the passenger seat.
Consider hiring a professional driving instructor for your child. Call around to find the best one for your child’s needs. Ask if the person is familiar with the needs of children with autism or if the driving instructor has a certification in teaching clients with autism. Your chosen driving instructor should be patient, understanding, kind, and adaptable to various situations.
Seeking Professional Advice
If you want to learn more about how to prepare your child with autism for more grown-up responsibilities, talk to your child’s autism therapy provider. Your child’s therapist is also familiar with your child’s behavior patterns.
Our staff is happy to help, too, with autism therapy in Springfield, Missouri, and surrounding areas. To learn more about our services or answer additional questions, contact us through our website or call (417) 818-5784 today. We have offices in Springfield, Ozark, and Joplin, Missouri.