Do you have a "house" you go to where your anxieties drift away?
Most of us do, though we may no realize it. Our "house" may involve a physical activity like running or swimming, a hobby like music or reading, or busy work like cleaning or organizing. It is a place to re-group and get away for a sanity check. The importance of having a daily outlet allows us balance and tolerance.
What if you didn't have a "house" or even know what kind of "house" you needed to calm your nerves and ease frustrations? Many children on the autism spectrum suffer from such a dilemma. Their communication difficulties are a contributing factor toward some of this undiscovered area. Uncharted territory is the main culprit. If a child doesn't have an opportunity to experience their "house", how can he/she know they will be calmed or comf
orted? With great effort, I discovered that my son has two definite houses where his anxieties are calmed and his mind open to receiving new information and/or experiences: Music and Swimming (water/swimming- 6 mos old).
orted? With great effort, I discovered that my son has two definite houses where his anxieties are calmed and his mind open to receiving new information and/or experiences: Music and Swimming (water/swimming- 6 mos old). Music is his soother "house" and swimming is his comfort "house. It is important to understand the distinctions so we accommodate correctly during his time of need. Eventually, I am hopeful he will be able to independently determine his need and provide the suitable "house" to escape to.
Understanding the concept of "houses", and the necessity for an autistic child's discovery of what their own house(s) may be, is monumental to his/her progression. They provide (1)an escape for a child to take control back of their emotions and (2)is a place where they can feel most comfortable. It is during moments where our children are in one of their "houses" that we can capitalize on. My son benefits when we introduce new experiences or teach during musical moments. Though music is primarily his soother, my son's state of mind is open to new things and we take these opportunistic times to do so. Pairing music with communication(speech), academics, or socialization is a fantastic tool we use for maximum progression. Taking my son to one of his "houses" before new experiences allows him to work on his terms, not ours. It provides a sense of control and limits anxiety.
We all have our coping tools that we use for ourselves so this concept shouldn't be that foreign to any of us. The difference is that we have been given the opportunity to discover what we need because we are equipped with the typical communication tools to ask for our interests. This is where autistic children suffer and need the help of parents, grandparents, teachers, and typical peers to help them create their own "house(s)" of comfort.
What is your "house"?
My houses: quiet and creativity
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