6 Autism Therapies Parents Can Provide in Their Own Home

It can be expensive to care for an autistic child. Therapy can be costly and is not always available or accessible. However, it has been shown that parents and caregivers can provide therapies that lead to improvement and build skills while helping them bond with their autistic kids.

While you can't "cure" autism—either at home or under a professional's care—parents can provide aspects of six well-established, risk-free therapies on their own without investing a lot of time or money. These therapies include:

• Play therapy
• Speech therapy
• Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
• Floortime
• Relationship Development Intervention (RDI)
• Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) for aggressive behaviors

This article explains these approaches and how to get started by reading, watching videos, or attending classes online or in person. It also discusses how parents can work with a trained therapist until they feel ready to take the lead or provide at-home therapy to supplement professional care.

Play Therapy

Play therapy is exactly what it sounds like: learning through the process of play. Autistic children are more likely to play alone and repeat actions over and over, rather than engage in pretend play.

Therefore, the goal of play therapy is to build social interaction and communication skills and, in the long run, to enhance children's ability to engage in new activities and symbolic play.

You can start by connecting with your child through simple chase-and-tickle games, bubble blowing, or sensory activities such as:

• Swinging
• Sliding
• Wriggling through a tube
• Finger painting or footprint painting
• Mud play: mashing, scooping, and making things from mud
• Sand and water play: Mix sand and water in a large bucket; add shells, plastic fish, and rocks to splash, swirl, and play with.

As your child's abilities grow, you may be able to build toward taking turns in back-and-forth games, collaborative games, or even make-believe.

Speech Therapy

Some autistic children may have trouble with speech or language skills. While speech therapy is a complex field, there are aspects of speech and communication therapy that parents can provide with relatively little training.

Speech therapy can help improve speaking skills, as well as nonverbal communication using signs, gestures, pictures, or an electronic speaking device. One way to get started is to visit the Hanen Centre online.

Hanen's More Than Words and Talkability programs are specifically designed for parents and caregivers to use with their autistic children.​ At the same time, they are terrific techniques for bonding with your child. You can take an in-person Hanen class or purchase their guidebook/DVD combos to get started.

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)

Applied behavior analysis (ABA) is often referred to as the gold standard of autism therapy, largely because therapists set very specific, measurable goals. Some autism advocates object to its reliance on behavior modification principles they consider harmful, but many professionals recommend ABA and report its success.

While it's possible to take courses and be certified in ABA, it's also possible to do a quick online training program and use ABA techniques in your home. Basic concepts without formal training can be simple and intuitive:

• Choose the skill you want to teach (e.g., brush your teeth).
• Break the skill down into simple steps (find your toothbrush, wet it, etc.). 
• Show the first step to your child; you may have to work hand-over-hand a few times. Once you're sure your child understands how to do the step on their own, ask them to do so.
• If they do a good job, praise and reward them with a small treat. If they don't comply, ask them again. If necessary, repeat the training so you're sure your child is clearly connecting the words you use to the action you're requesting.
• Once your child is successful with the first step, teach the second step. 
• If your child needs support with linking together the steps (chaining), provide them with a visual aid such as a chart showing the steps of the skills you're teaching.

Floortime

Floortime has a great deal in common with play therapy but is built around the idea that parents should work toward increasing "circles of communication" with their autistic child.

In other words, through the use of Floortime techniques, parents encourage their child to participate in back-and-forth interaction (verbal or nonverbal). This helps autistic kids to expand their social skills and make emotional connections.

Floortime involves joining the child’s activities and following the child’s lead through play. Sessions can be led by parents, guardians, and even older siblings. They last around 20 minutes or more and can be done just about anywhere.

Parents can learn about Floortime and learn Floortime techniques by taking online courses, watching videos, reading books, or working with a Floortime therapist.

Relationship Development Intervention (RDI)

RDI is a therapeutic technique specifically developed for parents and guardians. Like Floortime, it relies on developmental theories for parents to help their autistic children build social communication skills.

This model focuses on activities that help the child develop flexibility in thinking and handling social situations, like coping with change and understanding different perspectives.

Unlike Floortime, however, RDI has a prescribed series of goals and activities​ and requires that parents work with a consultant to get started.

If you're interested in using developmental therapy with your child and prefer a clearly defined program (hiring a consultant to get started), RDI might be a great choice for you.

Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) for Aggressive Behaviors

Some autistic children engage in aggressive behaviors that make it very difficult to leave home or participate in typical activities.

Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) technique, intended for children with aggressive behaviors, is provided by parents or guardians who are trained by consultants.

The goal is to disrupt escalation in the negative behaviors between parent and child, as parents learn to set clear limits and establish authority in the relationship.

PCIT is based on the idea that a strong, secure attachment relationship is a necessary foundation for establishing effective limit-setting and consistency in discipline, which leads to improved mental health for both parent and child."

Summary

Therapy can be costly and is not always accessible. Parents and caregivers can provide established therapies that help build skills while also helping them bond with their autistic child. Some of these therapies require training by a specialist, while others can be self-taught through reading, videos, and online courses.