Grandparents may want to connect with their autistic grandchildren, but very often they are uncertain about what to do, what to say, or how to reach out. Luckily, there are ways.
This article presents some simple tips that may help you, your parents, and your autistic child to build new relationships along with new skills.
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Forming a Bond With an Autistic Grandchild
Some grandparents immerse themselves in information aboutautism. Many, however, may get their information from the media. If your parents are among the second group, do provide them with simple, basic information about what autism is andisn’t.
There are other steps to take. You can:
In many cases, the real roadblock for grandparents is anxiety about looking clueless in front of their own children. What if they say or do the wrong thing? What if their grandchild doesn’t respond to them as they hope? Will their own child judge them?
If you think performance anxiety is putting a wedge between your parents and your children, the best thing you can do for either of them is to gracefully disappear. In fact, why not take the opportunity to get away for the afternoon?
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