Is Homeschooling The Answer For Autistic Children?
Every child on the autism spectrum is different, and since they are no cases alike, this means all have different needs and strengths. In the educational sector, the standard is pretty even, which can be challenging for children with autism because even in autistic oriented schools there are no 2 cases alike which is why many parents on the spectrum are opting for more (one-on-one) school methods.
Homeschooling is a growing trend with autistic parents because many of them are seeking for answers that our regular school system does not offer. Today, we will share the benefits of homeschooling vs the public school system.
Traditional Education System
Traditional schools are often a challenging place for ASD children for the following reasons:
- The Environment: Schools are filled with bright colors, lots of noise, and several things that could be overwhelming for children with sensory issues. The crowd can also be disturbing for ASD children that struggle to manage such situations.
- The Settings: Regular school systems requires children to stay quiet at certain moments and to talk at others, to play, and even to scream at particular times. All of this could be extremely confusing for a child on the spectrum that requires more established and specific orders in order to follow up.
- Verbal Classes: Our state school programs are implemented to be taught (for the most part) verbally, which can be extremely challenging for verbally impair students that require more visual and spacial settings.
- Bullying: Although this is something that we would like to deny, most special students are bullied and left aside at school. In a report published by the charity found that 82% of the children with learning disabilities are bullied and 79% are scared to go out because they are frightened they might be bullied. Even if your child is not aware of the whispering and comments made about him/her, they notice when someone has an attitude towards them, which could lead to insecurity and low self-esteem.
Note: If your child is going to a regular school and you start noticing a certain rejection from his/her side (example: crying before going, not wanting to go, wanting to stay, or even general anxiety) pay attention for he might be experiencing trouble in some of the mentioned areas.
Homeschool Benefits
Special needs children require specific attention and support in class, which is one of the reasons why many parents are turning towards homeschooling to help their children learn quicker and better. If you are a parent that has the time and energy to homeschool your child, the following benefits will definitely encourage you to get started:
1.- Targeted Education: Once you discover your child’s natural abilities and talents, it is way easier to potentialize them by channeling their education. For example, If your child loves to learn in open spaces you can take them to the park to learn the animal names, or even learn to count while watching animals in the zoo, etc. The idea is to adapt the learning strategy to your child and not vice versa.
2.- Avoiding Challenges: If your child struggles with specific details that regular schools represent such as specific hours, a large number of hours sitting down, large crowds, lots of noise, etc., homeschooling is a great way to avoid them because you get to decide when to switch activities, take breaks and even take lessons outside the box.
3.-Greater Therapy Opportunities: Tailored therapy is rarely offered at a school. Things such as play therapy, floor time, sensory activities are normally not provided at school, so homeschooling your child is a great way for them to experience activities that are suitable and beneficial for specific needs.
4.- Stronger Bounds: Most homeschool parents recall a stronger bond with their child for they get to celebrate together and partner in every single milestone and accomplishment. Aside from this, you also get to witness your child’s growth and development while being an active part of it, something that is commonly missed in regular school systems.
5- Community Connections: Many parents with children on the spectrum have communities where they gather once a week to have all children play together and even have classes together a few times a month. These types of connections are greatly beneficial for both parent and child because both get to establish beneficial friendships with a community that can fully relate to them and that will offer support in many aspects (educational, relational, emotional, etc).
When it comes to autistic education, we need to keep in mind that every child is different and that there are no specific formulas for it. Remember, the key to success is to stay connected to what works for you and your child, and overall be patient. Trust your child’s timing and celebrate together every step of the way.
At WSCC, we offer support for autistic families and their children with stem cell therapy treatments that can transform autistic conditions by healing the gut, decreasing inflammation and improving overall brain functioning. Contact us and join our autistic community of support and companionship.
Remember, you are not alone!
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