By Marguerite Elisofon author MY PICTURE PERFECT FAMILY: What Happens When One Twin has
Autism. Founder “Ask an Autism Mom”
– offering
Consulting Services for Families with Children on The Spectrum. Blogger for
The Never-Empty Nest on parenting young adults and disability
related issues. Mother of twins Samantha and Matthew.
1. Try to make sure your child is not
over hungry when going out to eat. Whether waiting on line cafeteria style
or seated for fine dining, your child will need to be patient. It always helps
if you can play a game. If you’re at a fast food restaurant that’s not so fast,
the first game can be deciding which line is best to stand on. Then you can
discuss how quickly each line is moving, rooting for your own line and
remarking on the progress of others—much like watching a horse race in slow
motion. When seated at a fancy restaurant, you can play word games. One
favorite in our family was What Doesn’t Belong? A. Fork, B. Knife, C. Plate and
D. Spoon. Make sure your child explains the reason for their choice. For older
children, use more complex categories (like geography and transportation
vehicles). Also encourage them to make up their own multiple choice questions
for you. Sometimes it’s fun to discover that there is more than one “correct”
answer, depending on the reasons offered.
2. Making polite requests—saying
please and thank you is a MUST and should become automatic. Keep reminding your
child in a matter of fact tone until this behavior becomes habit. If your child
is anything like mine, she may surprise you by learning quickly in order to
avoid being reminded.
3. If your waiter makes a mistake,
it’s important to teach your child not to meltdown in response. When Samantha
was young, she hated ice in her soda and would meltdown when waiters brought
her ice filled glasses. She even hated ice in her water. It took close to a
decade for Samantha to learn how to send back her iced drinks politely, so
never give up!
4. Help your child navigate the menu.
If your kid tries to order something you know they won’t like, intervene.
Explain why they won’t like it—color, texture, sauce, etc.—encourage them to
modify their order (sauce on the side) or suggest other menu choices. Help your
child order food they will enjoy in an appropriate portion, without over
ordering. If your child doesn’t eat as much as you think they should, don’t
turn food into a battleground. Kids will eventually eat when they’re hungry
enough. My son once fasted two and a half days in protest for being grounded
(while still drinking gallons of Coke). He eventually scarfed down a hamburger
and fries (while still grounded).
5. Seating arrangements with siblings—taking turns. When
your child on the spectrum insists on sitting next to Mom and Dad or in the
middle, it’s OK if their sibling(s) doesn’t care. But if one or more siblings
all want the same seat, they will have to take turns. If possible, discuss turn
taking before going out to eat. Also if a family member feels hurt or
left out, the child with autism needs to learn how to take the other person’s
feelings into account. One way to teach empathy is to role play. Ask your
child: “How would YOU feel if …?”
6. Technology at the table—A lot depends on the age of your
child. If your young ASD child is unable to participate in the conversation,
it’s OK to let them use a gadget for a while. Negotiate in advance when it’s
acceptable to use technology at the table and when it must be put away. Every
family will have a different tolerance level. Neurotypical siblings at the
table, especially if they’re older, should still be expected to turn off cell
phones and iPads and participate in family discussions, acting as role models.
7. Table manners—all children should learn how to use
silverware at home and be reasonably adept with utensils before going to a
restaurant (unless it’s chicken fingers at McDonalds). At the very least, if
Mom or Dad cuts their food, the child should be able to manage a fork.
8. Going to the rest room alone—a judgment call. Much depends on the
developmental level of your child. Only you can assess their ability to
navigate the restaurant or remember to wash their hands. If you’re familiar
with the restaurant and the bathroom is reasonably close, you might feel
comfortable allowing them to go alone. Obviously, in less familiar, more
crowded places, you’ll want to make sure your child is accompanied.
9. Bumping into adult friends—modulating behavior. Teach your
child how to be polite and appropriate, saying a brief hello and exchanging pleasantries,
without intruding on someone else’s evening.
10. Dessert—one per customer! Any meltdowns over
this issue results in no dessert. A meltdown also probably that means you’re
reaching for the check, and everyone leaves without
dessert. Once your child understands this routine, they’re likely to cooperate.
Marguerite Elisofon is a New York City writer and the author
of My Picture Perfect Family, a memoir about
how her family navigated life with a child on the autistic spectrum before the
internet and support groups existed. She also blogs about parenting young
adults and disability related issues in The Never Empty Nest. Her
writing has been featured in a variety of publications, including Time and NY Metro Parents magazine,
and her family’s story has been featured by the NY Post, Fox News, Parents Magazine, and on
Jenny McCarthy’s Dirty
Sexy Funny radio show. A Vassar
graduate, Marguerite was born and raised in New York City, where she still
lives with her husband, Howard, in their mostly-empty nest. She is available to
speak about a wide variety of issues relating to twins, parenting, and autism.
