top of page
Updated AIM Logo.png

New to AIM? Get your weekly AIM email FREE!

By signing up, you agree to receive emails from ThriveGuide.

Your AIM This Week:

Be Curious

Listen on the player below

Children and adults with autism experience their environment and social interactions differently.

We have been afforded insights into these differences, often sensory-related but also cognitive, emotional, and physiologically-based, from first-hand reports.


There are now dozens of books written by autistic individuals, including children. They are insightful and essential to learn from for parents and professionals alike.


“My autism makes things shine. Sometimes I think it is amazing but sometimes it is sad when I want to be the same and talk the same and I fail. Playing the piano makes me very happy. Playing Beethoven is like your feelings – all of them – exploding.”


Mikey Allcock, 16-year old who was non-speaking until age 10

Having read a good number of these books, blogs and lectures, several takeaways for me are:

  • Not all people with autism experience things the same way. They/we are all unique and have our own individual experiences of the world.

  • One person’s account of their autistic experience should not be assumed and imposed on another person with autism.

  • There is an infinitely wide range, a spectrum, of how each sense (smell, touch, taste, vision, and hearing) can be experienced.


Given the individuality and range of autism, I believe that the only way to better understand any one individual like your child is to stay curious, to observe, join, and not judge.


This week I encourage you to put aside your assumptions to spark your curiosity.


Become a detective… observe your child’s patterns, observe their behavior, listen closely to their sounds, join in more to imitate their movements.


Do all of this from a place of pure child-like curiosity… no pre-judgment… no pre-conclusions… no assumptions. Join them in their play and movement as a way to learn about them.



Enjoy this week, filled with curiosity and wonder!

JA Signature.png

Jonathan Alderson

Autism Expert
Founder, ThriveGuide
Author, Challenging the Myths of Autism

What do you think of this week's AIM?

Share Your ThoughtsBe the first to write a comment.

New to AIM? Get your weekly AIM email free!

By signing up, you agree to receive emails from ThriveGuide.

Explore All AIMs

How to Help your Autistic Child Learn

Leo Buscaglia is one of my favorite authors who wrote many books on love. He taught the first ever university-level course in the U.S.A. on love. He also thought a lot about education and once wrote...

Acceptance First, Change Second

This week, we look at what made the big difference in congresswoman, Gabby Gifford's, recovery after suffering a gunshot to the brain, and how this same factor led the mother of an autistic boy to finally be able to share her love and affection with her autistic son.

Autism Pro-Parent Thinking

Change your thoughts and you change your world! In this week’s A.I.M, I take a look at how parents can use thinking like a strategy; a pro-parenting skill. But does positive thinking really work? Let’s find out!

Imitation: The Greatest Form of Flattery

Years ago, I stood in a small room in a family’s home in New Jersey, licking and blowing on my finger tips. Yes, you read that correctly. It was during a therapy session for a young 7 year-old autistic boy, who was non-speaking at the time, and consumed for most of his day repeating this behavior.

The Power and Pitfall of Routine

Why do so many autistic kids meltdown when a tiny part of their routines is changed? Parents raising an autistic child quickly learn to stick to routines to avoid upsets but can also feel like they’re held prisoner to them.

Stop Controlling

“How can I get my child to do what they’re told?” “Why won’t my child just listen to me?” These are the most common questions I’m asked in my parent coaching practice. And the answers are not what you might expect.

Created by Autism Specialist.

Jonathan Alderson, Ed. M., draws on 25+ years of supporting autistic children.

Completely free resource.

No strings attached. Just a way for us to support as many families as possible.  

Completely free resource.

No strings attached. Just a way for us to support as many families as possible.  

Created by Autism Specialist.

Jonathan Alderson, Ed. M., draws on 25+ years of supporting autistic children.

Get a Free & Personalized Autism Parenting Course

Answer a few questions to help us select the right course for you!

bottom of page