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I need advice to calm down a 3 year old autistic boy that I babysit.
Ok, so I am trying EVERYTHING! I do mean everything to calm this little boy that I babysit down! He is 3 years old and autistic! I have never heard a boy scream so loud! Well anyways, do you have any tips to calm him down??? Thanks! By the way, I babysit him every day of the week except Sundays from 12:00 noon to 7:30pm! Help!
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Want to answer more questions in the Domesticity category?
Maybe give some free advice about: Babysitting?
my cousin is 18 years old and he's autistic but barney calms him down try putting in a barney movie for him mabey that will calm him down.
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I suggest the website called The Sitter's Weekly.
It's a free online guide to babysitting - includes advertising advice, babysitting rates, flyer ideas, how to handle the children, etc.
It's located at [Link](Mouse over link to see full location)
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Oh yeah, fun right?
Well, I'll assume that you have done a little bit of homework on autism. If not, go ahead! At the very least read the wikipedia article. I teach a class for special Ed students that are older, so I'm more experienced with them.
Maybe the better approach to keeping this kid calm (and keep in mind he IS three...autistic or not they like to be crazy) could be avoiding what sends him over the edge in the first place. This could be as minute as the way the lights are shining at him. The TV's too loud. Who knows. Frustration for no apparent reason is common.
Make sure you ask his parents what seems to bother him, or get him to excited, and what helps with calming him down. A girl a knew had a bag of random toys that her girl liked and would calm her down.
Another one that I knew seemed to respond well to repetitive touch. Maybe just a stroke on the arm and talking in a smooth voice. Keep in mind that not all kids like this, but it's just a suggestion.
I have found that more often than not, these kids have a real keen interest in music making. You can try singing together, or playing a (more or less) "quiet" instrument. I like to slow things down with my class by playing a mellow song and dancing slowly with gauzy scarves. (when they are already in a calm state, that is ) Just twirl around and float with him, and see if he complies. If not, don't give up. Just take it away and try again later when he is calm again.
The sad truth is that this is a trial and error situation, and you're just going to have to invest in a pair or earplugs for a while.
When he gets into his fits, try to remain calm, as not to further aggravate him. If he has an siblings, put them in another room with a distraction until the other one is calm. I understand that this is a very vague answer, but I hope it helps a little! Above all, make sure that you have patience, and understand that he doesn't mean to be a pain in the butt sometimes. Just wait. The more time you spend with him, the more he will trust and listen to you. In time, you will find out what works, and you will have a very well behaved lovable little boy.
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I myself used to babysit a six year old autistic boy. Sometimes, you obviously can't do this but perhaps you could mention it to the parents, his mom would give him a little benadryl to calm him down. Also, he was on a special diet. Definitely don't give the boy candy, or he'll get really hyped up. What I did was find something the boy really got interested in, like blowing bubbles, to keep him entertained. I'm sure since he's three he probably doesn't communicate, but if he does you could offer rewards for good behavior. And time out for bad behavior. If he has an obsession with anything, for example the movie Cars, use that as a tool to keep him busy/entertained. I know it's REALLLLLY hard, but hang in there!!! Best of luck to ya.
P.S. Show him Cars if he hasn't seen it. I know of many autistic children who LOVE it!
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Hi, My nephew is autistic and he is 7 he screams all the time and throws stuff to get our attention so pay attention to him a lot play with him try to toss a ball to him and try to have him catch it or try coloring in a coloring book try things to keep his mind busy and to show him that you are paying attention to him give him a lot of loving and when he screams put your finger to your lips and say shhh in a calming way not a mean way, he might think he was doing something wrong. he really can't help it that is how he gets attention from you and it works doesn't it? that is why he continues to scream, so before he even has time to scream keep his mind busy and have him think that he doesn't need to scream to get your attention. goodluck and if you have anymore questions you can ask me. I hope I helped! 16/F
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