Thread by @AU_Scot

It’s #ChildrensMentalHealthWeek and here’s our thread with 10 tips for supporting autistic children’s mental health.

1. Listen to our experiences.  Our sensory and other lived experiences might be different to those around us but that doesn’t mean they are not real so don’t dismiss them.

2.Believe us.  Don’t tell us that we are fine when we are not.  Validate our lived experiences. That label on the jumper could very well be driving us to distraction!  That food could be too spicy/too bland.

3.Make the changes we need.  Create environments that support our play, sensory needs, communication styles.

4.Teach us our Rights and self advocacy skills. We are entitled to reasonable adjustments, it’s enshrined in law. Model and teach accessing these rights.

5.Find autistic role models. Let us see autistic flourishing in our community, on TV, online, in books etc.

6.Let us see our autistic strengths in action. Talk about autistic joy and sensory bliss. Tell us when we have succeeded because we are autistic (spoiler alert, it’s every time we succeed).

7.Let us stim. Stimming can be essential for emotional regulation, and it’s fun!

8.Let us play the way we want to. Our way of playing, our treasured objects, may be different to other kids but they are valid and important.

9.Let us follow our special interests. It’s ok if your child wants all weekend researching sharks. It’s better than ok, it’s downright cool.

10.Work with the fact we are autistic, not against it.  We are autistic our whole lives, and that won’t change.  Accepting and taking ownership of our autistic identity is one of the best things we can do for our mental health.

For more information on supporting autistic young people check out our website here:

autismunderstanding.scot/information-hu…