There is nothing more beautiful than when a person has an unbridled passion for something. It can be infectious. When a child’s eyes light up over a topic or area of interest, it warms the heart. You want to do whatever you can to help them pursue this area of excitement with as much furvour as possible, because it brings so much happiness. Children with autism often have deep, focused interests that can be key to engaging with them and supporting their development. These special interests provide a unique opportunity to foster learning, communication, and connection. 

Here are ten ways to work with the interests of a child with autism in Burlington.

1. Encourage Creativity And Expression

Do you have a child that loves superheroes and dinosaurs? Do they also like to paint or model figures out of clay? Combine these two passions, and you will be amazed at what they produce. Give them the space and opportunity to turn their passions into creative outlets. A child who loves art can draw or paint scenes of their favourite subjects, while a tech-savvy child could design a simple computer program about their favourite video game.

2. Expand Their Interests Gradually

A child that likes to play with toy cars may not immediately take to small engine repair. They might get there incrementally, however. Start with what they love and slowly introduce related concepts or activities. For instance, maybe find an illustrated book about how engines work or take an afternoon to visit a car museum together. This approach broadens their world while respecting their preferences.

3. Create Relaxing Breaks Using Their Interests

It’s easier to feel relaxed when you are doing a project that is centred around your special interests. There’s no new surprises or difficult learning curves. Just reassuring familiarity. During challenging or overwhelming moments, offer activities connected to their special interest as a calming strategy. A child who loves puzzles might find working on one a soothing way to decompress.

4. Incorporate Interests Into Learning

School is so much more enjoyable when you are learning about a topic that’s dear to your heart. At Monarch House, we try to do the same thing with our therapy sessions. We find out what gets your child excited, and we incorporate those interests into learning sessions. In the same way, you can tailor educational activities around their favourite topics. A child fascinated by animals might enjoy solving math problems about zoo animals or reading books about wildlife. This approach can help make learning enjoyable and meaningful.

5. Build Social Skills Through Shared Interests

It’s so much easier to be in a social setting if the topic of discussion is something that you care about. This will encourage your child to speak up and participate in the dialogue. Encourage group activities that revolve around their interests. If they love rocks, find local clubs or events, such as museum tours or themed workshops, where they can meet peers with similar passions. This setting can make social interaction less intimidating.

6. Use Their Interests As A Motivator

A hug, a high five, or a special treat or outing can go a long way towards fostering positive behaviour. This little reward can be aligned with their special interests. For instance, if they love Pokemon, keep a few cards in the back pocket to motivate them when they’re running out of steam. Leverage their passions to encourage participation in activities they might otherwise avoid. For instance, if a child loves trains, incorporate train-themed rewards for completing tasks like homework or chores.

7. Foster Communication Using Their Interests

At Monarch House, we aim to steer the dialogue of our speech pathology sessions around the things that your child is passionate about. We sit down with each child and find out what their personal interests are, and we use these to spark conversations and develop language skills. For example, if they enjoy Minecraft, we might ask open-ended questions like, “What structures would you build if you were on a farm?” or “Can you tell me more about the types of tools you can use in this game?”

8. Teach Problem-Solving Skills

You can teach daily living skills in children with autism by working around their interests. Use their favourite subjects to teach critical thinking and problem-solving. A child fascinated by construction might enjoy solving design challenges, like building a model bridge using household items.

9. Encourage Self-Esteem Through Expertise

The best way to learn sometimes is by teaching. This is one way of celebrating your child’s knowledge and skills in their area of interest. Let them teach you or others about their favourite topic, which can boost their confidence and sense of accomplishment.

10. Collaborate On Long-Term Goals

When a child has a passion, let them pursue it, and think big. Why not make it a career pursuit or lifelong goal? Work together to channel their interests into goals that inspire them. For instance, a child passionate about animals might dream of becoming a veterinarian, and you can support this by helping them explore related activities and learning opportunities. Working with a child’s interest you can foster independence skills in a more connected manner. . 

Find the thing that gets your child giddy with excitement. It could be dinosaurs, or stickers, or trading cards. Then channel that enthusiasm into their learning and therapy sessions.  By thoughtfully engaging with the interests of a child with autism in Burlington, you create a supportive environment that nurtures their growth, encourages learning, and strengthens your bond. At Monarch House we have a professional, interdisciplinary staff or occupational therapists, behavioural therapists, psychotherapists, and speech pathologists that are here to help. These strategies not only affirm their unique identity but also help them navigate the world with greater confidence and joy.