For autistic children, the real world can present a veritable challenge to their preference for predictability, familiarity and stability according to Characteristics and Needs of High Functioning Autistic Children. Due to their children's embarrassing outbursts in public, many caregivers often strive to minimize their encounters with the real world by leading a limited and sheltered lifestyle.
This overprotective lifestyle is further exacerbated when an autistic child is homeschooled. Unfortunately, by enclosing their children in a protective cocoon, caregivers deprive them of the opportunity to learn the lessons of life. Instead, caregivers should serve as their children’s guides in their navigation of various complex life situations.
How can you “use” the real world as your classroom to enable your child to develop important skills for living?
Cultivates Social Awareness and Skills
The moment you leave the house, you can provide your child with immediate feedback in his/her interaction with the people and the environment. Your praises or reprimands help to cultivate his/her social awareness and behavior, according to Autism Social Skills. When your child walks too closely behind a person, you issue a reminder. If your child fails to greet your neighbor, you prompt him/her to do so.
Your outings in the real world will also offer plenty of opportunities for communication. By building your conversations around familiar daily routines or favorite activities, you ensure that what you are conversing about is meaningful and relevant to your child. Thus you are likely to coax your child who may be a reluctant speaker to speak.
Apart from conversing with you, your child can also communicate with others as he/she engages in simple transactions. With your guidance, your child can learn the basic courtesy of interacting with the cashier and purchase items on his/her own.
Allows for the Practice of Numeracy Skills in Live Situations
If your child has been taught to manage money, he/she can also engage in guided monetary transactions. Before making the purchase, you can guide your child through the process: how much money he/she gives, cost of the item, and the change. With this preparation, your child can make the purchase with your supervision. To ensure success and minimize stress, you should start with routine transactions and situations where there are no other waiting customers.
Develops Exposure to Life Situations
Autistic children are known for their preference for routines in which everything goes according to plan. However, rigidly adhering to routines prevents your autistic child from experiencing the vicissitudes of life. Until your child gets to experience diverse situations sufficiently, he/she will never learn how to cope with feelings of distress. Through repeated exposure with your feedback and supervision, your child will be able to adapt to these situations.
Serves as Source of Inspiration for the Homeschooling Curriculum
If you are designing your own curriculum, the real world is a treasure trove of inspiration for you to generate “storylines”. In fact, there can be a lively interplay between your worksheets and your child’s real-life experiences. As your child’s interactions with the real world evolve, you will also modify your curriculum accordingly. Within the slower-paced learning environment of your “classroom”, you have the luxury to work on the skills that are needed for “live” situations. The learning in the classroom and the real world are thus mutually reinforcing.
By incorporating the real world into your homeschooling program, you will prepare your autistic child for life. With your guidance, your child can practice relevant social life skills he/she has acquired in your “classroom”, as well as bolster his/her life experiences, in the real world.
