There are many reasons why a parent of a child with autism will need and want to teach sequential steps. Even a young child can find it useful now and later. Sequential steps are helpful in cause and effect, in decision making, and in the give and take of everyday life.
When our children turn on the light switch, the light goes on. They can learn that concept very quickly. If I do this, then that happens. This cause and effect is important in teaching our children to use technology such as computers.
It is also important to teach some children to use a communication device. Essentially, some children with autism learn that if I press this button, this word, phrase, or sentence will come out. They can also learn that if I have many buttons I can ‘say’ many words, phrases or sentences.
Children using other technology can learn that if I press these buttons, this will happen. So if I’m using a computer or a label maker, if I press the correct sequence of buttons, I will be able to see a game or a label.
This is very relaxing for children with autism and can be used in a number of ways. It can be used to teach new skills or even to help control behavior. So let’s take the concept to the give and take of everyday life.
Children with autism can be taught steps. They can be taught a sequence of steps. They can be taught a sequence of steps and they will get a result. Many social skills begin with a series of steps.
There are steps to say sorry. There are steps to join a conversation. There are steps to ask someone to be a friend. There are even more complicated steps to troubleshooting.
Children with autism can and will learn these steps if parents do so thoughtfully. Parents can buy books that break down the social skills that we seemed to learn automatically. We can also provide a safe place in the family to begin practicing these steps. Those sequential steps are really helpful in helping a child with autism understand social situations.