top of page

Your Next AIM

AIM Logo.png

New to AIM? Get your weekly AIM email FREE!

By entering your email, you agree to receive emails from ThriveGuide

New to AIM? Get your weekly AIM Free!

Know what to do and when.

Actionable goals to best support your unique child, each prioritized so you know what do to first.

Maximize your resources.

Less than the cost of a single therapy session.

Start right away. No waitlists.

Practical strategies you can do at home.

Know what to do and when.

Actionable goals to best support your unique child, each prioritized so you know what do to first.

Maximize your resources.

Less than the cost of a single therapy session.

Start right away. No waitlists.

Practical strategies you can do at home.

Completely Risk-Free! 100% Money Back Guarantee

Get Personalized Recommendations for your Child

Completely Risk-Free!
100% Money Back Guarantee

However, habits also can keep us ‘stuck’, in a rut, in a…habit!

 

In order to encourage maximum growth in your child, it is important that you are aware of the routines you have established with them, and them with you, that might keep them stuck in those routines.

 

For example, (a made up scenario): your child goes to the fridge in the morning, you open the door, they point to a yogurt cup. They then turn around and walk to the sofa while you take the yogurt out, get a spoon from the cutlery drawer, set it up on the table, and call them over to eat. The daily routine is initiated by your child by simply standing in front of the fridge. This triggers a routine in your brain to do the rest.

 

In order to promote maximum growth, you would become aware of this routine, and shift it. Change the routine in ways that creates opportunities for your child to:

 

  1. Pay more attention. For example, you could take the yogurt out, close the fridge door, and then simply stand there looking at them with a warm smile. Your child will do their usual part of the routine and walk to the sofa. But at some point they would notice that you are standing there smiling, not getting them a spoon. They might then walk back to you and prompt you to get the spoon.

  2. Not respond to their initial prompt of standing in front of the fridge. Allow them to figure out a more sophisticated way of communicating, with words.

  3. Get a snack out of the fridge for yourself, and sit to eat it with them to model eating new foods. If you haven’t done this before, it would pique their interest.

 

If you modify your routines every day, they will ultimately change their daily routines too.

 

This week, AIM to be really aware of your routines and habits with your child, and change your own habits first to lead the way for them to also change. 

You’ve got this! 

Let’s have an incredible week!

JA Signature.png

Jonathan Alderson

Autism Expert

Founder, ThriveGuide

Author, Challenging the Myths of Autism

Want More?

Get my weekly AIM email FREE

By entering your email, you agree to receive emails from ThriveGuide.

AIM Logo.png

New to AIM? Get your weekly AIM Free!

New to AIM? Get your weekly AIM email FREE!

By entering your email, you agree to receive emails from ThriveGuide

Dive Deeper: Break the Habit!

Listen or Read the AIM Deep Dive!

00:00 / 02:52

Break your habits so that your child can form new habits.

 

We are all creatures of habit. We just are.

 

You have a morning routine at your bathroom sink. Do you drink a glass of water first or brush your teeth first? Maybe you splash your face with water, or maybe the very first thing you do is turn on your radio to listen while you start your bathroom routine.

 

Your child is no different.

 

And, as you know, people with autism tend to stick to their habits and routines even more fiercely.

 

Habits are efficient. They help us to get through the day quickly and also to multi-task, because we don’t need much brain power to do familiar routines.

Want More?

Get my weekly AIM email FREE

By entering your email, you agree to receive emails from ThriveGuide.

Dive Deeper: Break the Habit!

Listen or Read the AIM Deep Dive!

00:00 / 02:52

We are all creatures of habit. We just are.

 

You have a morning routine at your bathroom sink. Do you drink a glass of water first or brush your teeth first? Maybe you splash your face with water, or maybe the very first thing you do is turn on your radio to listen while you start the bathroom routine.

 

Your child is no different.

 

And, as you know, people with autism tend to stick to their habits and routines even more fiercely.

 

Habits are efficient. They help us to get through the day quickly and also to multi-task, because we don’t need much brain power to do familiar routines.

bottom of page