Page 7 - Mainstreamer Volume 1 Issue 2 Feb 2023

NEEDN’T FRET

on the floor. On the other end, high functioning
children with Asperger’s syndrome reportedly
stayed in their room for hours with their computer,
refusing to help with household chores or care to
their younger sibling. Another incident occurred
when a father and son were discussing an issue.
When the father had a different perspective. the
son exploded in rage. The son stormed out of the
room, slamming the door behind him.

In another family, an autistic teenager was
mistaken for being rude. Attempts by the father to
punish the child resulted in a bigger mess since the
boy was not only impolite, but also used profanity
towards the father. Physical action was then used
to control the child, leaving him emotionally
traumatized, weeping up, and isolating himself
in his room. He finally came out after his mother
persuaded and enticed him with his favorite
television show for two hours. While another child
who remained silent all day and refused to engage
in any conversation worried his mother since he
seemed depressed and gloomy.
Although there is a lot of materials available on the
Now the question is, what has the COVID-19 internet when COVID-19 hits, but attention from parents
lockdown revealed? The bigger question is, what is important for children with autism. (Image source:
went wrong or what did the parents miss that https://www.pexels.com/photo/boy-wearing-white-long-
caused them to resort to helicopter parenting to sleeves-8654763/)
solve the issues? Why were they unable to handle Internet, along with the promotion of so many
their child with special needs? new therapies, does not guarantee that it will
work with every autistic child because autism is
Recognizing that most of their child’s behavior
are beyond their child’s control, parents who were heterogeneous. What works for one child may not
work for another. If parents are provided with the
able to manage their child during the lockdown support they need to deal with the situation, both
chose to refrain from saying or doing anything children and parents will have a hope of surviving
that may aggravate the situation. They developed this pandemic and living a quality life.
an attitude to accommodate the child’s needs by
empathizing with the child so that he or she would Besides working as a lecturer, the author is determined
not experience a break in any routine. The parents to help parents of autistic children through personalized
were able to discuss with other family members interventions.
the psychological implications of their actions on
the child. This has eventually convinced the rest of
the family to cooperate. As for the high functioning
children, their parents were able to come up with
several solutions, such as question and answer
sessions to address emotions and perspectives
that they need to understand..
The complexity of autism warrants attention
and awareness, especially among parents. The
availability of interventions and materials on the

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