Mindful Parenting During The ‘Terrible’ Toddler Years’
January 8, 2021
Associated Challenges & Traits
Some ASD Traits could include:
- Scatter/splinter skills of abilities – such as poor gross motor or fine motor skills
- Oversensitive or under sensitive to pain
- Desire for the same daily schedule, toys, type of clothes or an insistent on “sameness”
- Repeating words, phrases in place of typical language or conversation (This is known as echolalia)
- Much difficulty expressing needs – they may use pointing, gestures versus words, or tantrums
- Finding situations funny or laughing at times when it is inappropriate (i.e., laughing at a baby crying.)
- Activity is noticeably under active or over active
- Excessive or frequent tantrums or meltdowns
Can be aggressive or self injurious - Prefers to be alone – may have social skills deficits
People on the spectrum can act deaf or be non responsive to verbal cues - Odd play such as; spinning objects, or using toys for something besides their intended purpose or using an odd attraction to an item that is inappropriate for age
- Non existent or poor eye contact
Non responsive to typical teaching methods - May respond negatively to crowds or not able to mix well with others
Difficulty with holding a conversation - May not like hugs, or to be cuddled.
- Sensitivity to loud noises, tags in clothes, coarse clothing, lights, and smells
- Frequently uses peripheral vision to track items (e.g., rolling car along countertop at eye-level)
- Highly self-limited diet (narrow down foods they’ll eat to a very limited few items when previously a broader range was accepted e.g., bread, chicken nuggets, cheese, milk, and crackers – period.)
- A high amount of severe food allergies.
- Lack of imaginative play or imitation.
