10 Things Autistic Toddlers Do

Understanding Autism Behaviors

Autism, a complex neurodevelopmental condition, often manifests unique behaviors in toddlers that deviate from typical developmental milestones. These behaviors encompass various aspects, including speech and language challenges and difficulties with imaginative play. Recognizing these behaviors early contributes to effective intervention strategies.

Speech and Language Challenges

One of the key things autistic toddlers do is display observable challenges in their speech and language development. This could manifest as using fewer words than their peers, having trouble communicating their needs effectively, or being overly verbose.

In some cases, these children may have difficulty forming complete and complex sentences. Their speech may also be marked by unusual tone, pitch, or rhythm. This aspect of autism can make social interaction a challenge for toddlers on the spectrum and may necessitate specialized speech and language therapy for improvement.

Difficulties with Imaginative Play

Another behavior commonly seen in toddlers with autism is a struggle to engage in imaginative play. Many toddlers with autism might find it challenging to mimic activities that other children of their age enjoy. This could include difficulties with pretend play or interacting with make-believe toys.

For example, while a typically developing toddler might pretend to feed a doll or have a tea party with stuffed animals, an autistic toddler might not engage in these activities. This lack of pretend play doesn't mean that autistic toddlers don't play or enjoy play, but their play might look different and be more real-world focused.

Understanding these behaviors can be crucial for parents, caregivers, and professionals working with autistic toddlers. With this knowledge, they can better cater to the child's unique needs and work towards effective strategies to foster their development.

Repetitive Behaviors in Autism

Among the things autistic toddlers do, repetitive behaviors are quite common. They manifest in various forms, from physical actions like hand flapping and rocking to verbal repetitions. These behaviors can serve different purposes for autistic individuals, ranging from self-regulation to trial-and-error discovery.

Flapping and Rocking

Flapping and rocking are two prevalent repetitive behaviors seen in toddlers with autism. These motor repetitions, such as hand flapping and manipulating objects, are considered lower-order repetitive behaviors. They can sometimes cause self-injury and interfere with learning and family life [2].

However, it's important to note that these motor repetitions are not always associated with distress. Autistic toddlers may engage in these behaviors with interest and focus, which can resemble engagement observed in the pursuit of special interests. Some repetitive motor behaviors may even be goal-directed.

In some cases, these behaviors serve as self-regulation for individuals with autism, allowing them to cope with social and other stressors. These actions can provide a calming effect in the face of ongoing stress, difficulty in predicting events, and weak executive function and social skills [2].

Repetitive Speech and Phrases

In addition to physical actions, repetitive speech and phrases are also common among autistic toddlers. They may repeat certain words or phrases over and over, which is often referred to as echolalia. This behavior can also be considered a form of self-regulation, providing comfort and predictability in communication.

Repetitive object use in autism may serve an adaptive function in trial-and-error discovery. Retaining these behaviors into childhood and adulthood may facilitate the discovery of novel configurations through repetitive motor sequences. The dopamine reward system may reinforce this trial-and-error tinkering when results are interesting and predictions are correct [2].

Understanding these behaviors can help parents, caregivers, and professionals better support autistic children in their development. It's essential to approach these behaviors with empathy and understanding, recognizing their potential adaptive functions and their role in the child's self-regulation.

Social Interaction Challenges

Social interaction is a crucial aspect of a child's development, and it is one of the areas where autistic toddlers can face significant challenges. These challenges can manifest in different ways, such as difficulty picking up social cues and initiating social interactions.

Picking Up Social Cues

One of the things autistic toddlers do is struggle with understanding and interpreting social cues. These social cues can include facial expressions, body language, or tone of voice. They may find it hard to understand what others are feeling or thinking, which can impact their ability to respond appropriately in social situations. This difficulty can also extend to sharing toys or aspects of themselves, further complicating their ability to integrate socially, academically, or physically [1].

Struggles with Social Initiation

In addition to understanding social cues, autistic toddlers may also have difficulty initiating social interactions. This can include problems with starting conversations, asking questions, or engaging in play with peers. Such struggles can often make social situations stressful and anxiety-inducing for the child.

Moreover, children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often find it hard to apply what they've learned in one setting to others, including the home. This can further compound their social challenges, as they may struggle to adapt to different social contexts or environments.

Creating consistency in their environment is one way to help autistic children reinforce their learning and reduce the stress associated with social interactions. This can involve using visual aids to help them understand social situations or practicing social skills in a comfortable, familiar environment.

The social interaction challenges faced by autistic toddlers underscore the importance of early intervention and support. With the right strategies and resources, it's possible to help these children improve their social skills and navigate social situations more confidently.

Early Diagnosis and Intervention

In the realm of autism, early diagnosis and intervention play a crucial role in shaping the future of an autistic toddler.

Importance of Early Diagnosis

The earlier children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) get help, the greater their chance of treatment success. Early intervention is the most effective way to speed up a child's development and reduce the symptoms of autism over the lifespan [3]. Recognizing the early signs and getting a timely diagnosis allows parents and caregivers to seek appropriate interventions and therapies.

These interventions can provide the child with tools and strategies to overcome challenges related to social interaction, communication, and behavior management. Besides, early diagnosis can also help the family understand and better cater to the unique needs of the child, promoting a supportive and nurturing environment.

Impact on Development Areas

Early diagnosis and intervention are crucial for children with autism as they may experience delays in certain areas of development, such as social interaction, speech, language, and engaging in pretend play.

Without early intervention, these developmental delays can become more pronounced over time, making it more difficult for the child to function in various settings, including home, school, and social environments. Therefore, early diagnosis and intervention can significantly improve the developmental trajectory of an autistic child.

Development Areas	Potential Impact Without Early Intervention
Social Interaction	Struggles with forming relationships, understanding social norms
Speech	Difficulties in verbal communication, limited vocabulary
Language	Difficulty in understanding and using language effectively
Pretend Play	Limited ability to engage in imaginative play, struggles with creativity

Understanding the underlying message behind these behaviors is crucial for effective communication and intervention. By gaining a deeper understanding of the 'things autistic toddlers do', parents and caregivers can provide the right support and intervention to facilitate the child's development and well-being.

Sensory Sensitivities in Autism

Sensory sensitivities are a common aspect of autism, often evident in toddlers. These can present as oversensitivity or hyposensitivity to various stimuli like sight, touch, taste, smell, sound, and temperature. These sensitivities can sometimes appear worse when the child is stressed or anxious.

Hypersensitivity to Stimuli

Autistic toddlers who are oversensitive to sensory information often display distress in various ways. This could be crying, withdrawing, shutting down, covering their ears or eyes, stimming more, or showing signs of restlessness, stress, or irritability when experiencing sensory input they dislike [5].

Specifically, toddlers with hypersensitivity to touch might avoid wearing shoes, dislike labels on clothes, hate haircuts, or show discomfort with physical affection. They may have preferences for loose-fitting clothing.

Toddlers might also exhibit extreme sensitivity to normal stimuli, such as sounds, lights, textures, or other stimuli that may seem overwhelming, confusing, or even painful to them. They may not be able to identify the source of distress, especially in new or confusing situations, and may find normal stimuli discomforting [6].

Strategies for Managing Sensory Overload

Managing sensory overload in autistic toddlers involves a combination of understanding, patience, and tailored strategies. Here are some useful approaches:

Create a Safe Space: This is a quiet, calm area where the child can retreat to when feeling overwhelmed. The space should be free from bright lights, strong smells, and loud noises.
Provide Sensory Tools: Items such as weighted blankets, chewy toys, or noise-canceling headphones can be helpful for managing sensory overload.
Practice Desensitization: Gradually exposing the child to the sensory input they are sensitive to can help them become more accustomed to it.
Seek Professional Help: Therapists specialized in sensory integration can provide strategies and exercises to help manage sensory sensitivities.

Autistic children with undersensitivity to pain might not react to painful experiences such as hot objects or injuries. Strategies for helping these children include creating awareness about potential dangers and seeking professional advice [5].

Understanding and addressing sensory sensitivities in autistic toddlers can greatly improve their comfort and ability to engage with the world around them.

Communication Strategies for Autism

Understanding and navigating communication with autistic toddlers can often be complex due to the unique ways they express themselves. In this section, we will explore two crucial strategies for improving communication skills in autistic children: Functional Communication Training (FCT) and nonverbal communication methods.

Functional Communication Training

Functional Communication Training (FCT) is an approach used to teach communication skills to children with autism, helping them express their wants or needs more effectively Child Mind Institute. This method involves teaching children words, signs, or pictures for items or concepts like favorite toys or food.

FCT has been proven to assist autistic children in reducing problematic behaviors such as acting out, throwing tantrums, or self-injury. Often, these behaviors are a way of trying to communicate needs. By using FCT, therapists aim to understand what a child is trying to express through their behavior and then teach them signs to express their wants or needs more effectively Child Mind Institute.

One of the primary goals of FCT is to help children develop communication skills. When children lack typical language skills, they may resort to tantrums, aggression, or self-injury as alternative ways of communication. FCT aims to teach children how to communicate effectively using language, signs, or images to fulfill their desired goals Child Mind Institute.

FCT uses positive reinforcement to enhance children's language and communication abilities, improving their interactions with others. The approach can be adjusted based on a child's functioning level, with treatment personalized to ensure effective communication development Child Mind Institute.

Nonverbal Communication Methods

Autistic children sometimes communicate differently from typically developing children. They may use language in unconventional ways, such as echolalia, where they repeat phrases they have heard to convey their needs or feelings. As a result, it can be challenging for others to understand their intended message Raising Children Network.

Some children might employ nonverbal communication methods to express themselves, such as pointing, reaching, or using picture cards. These nonverbal cues can be used to convey their desires or needs Raising Children Network.

It's important to note that behaviors such as self-harming, tantrums, or aggression are often linked to autistic children's attempts to communicate their needs, discomfort, confusion, or fear. Understanding the underlying message behind these behaviors is crucial for effective communication Raising Children Network.

Improving the communication skills of autistic children should be done gradually by observing their current communication attempts and teaching skills slightly beyond their current level. For instance, if a child cries to express hunger, the next step could be guiding them to point or reach for food before progressing to verbal communication Raising Children Network.

Supporting an autistic child's communication development may involve labeling items around the house, praising them for using newly learned skills, and seeking assistance from speech pathologists or autism professionals Raising Children Network.