We have all heard of Autism, maybe even know people who are called Autistic, but what is it really? Do au pairs have experience with this? Take a minute to learn something new today!
April is Autism Awareness Month and many people will be wearing blue today to bring the topic to the forefront. Please choose to send your child to school wearing blue today, but take a few minutes to teach them something about people with differences, including people with autism.
Autism is diagnosed much more today than it used to be, but the numbers are alarming. Boys are four times as likely to get this diagnosis. What does it mean? Autism is a spectrum, which means there are many levels of severity. In fact, 1 in 94 boys is said to be on the spectrum!
Many au pairs do have experience with Autism, as well as other types of developmental delays and handicapping conditions. Even those au pairs who have no Autism experience at all have received at least the basic review of normal child development and child safety guidelines. Since they come to live with your family, they are often very willing to learn about your child.
The beauty of au pair childcare is that he or she is solely dedicated to your family and your child. In fact, he or she has come to live with you, knowing virtually nobody else in the country other than me, your Local Area Representative! As a former classroom teacher and forever-mom-of-six children with a Masters Degree in Special Educaton, I have lots of expertise and experience to share with you and your au pair, should you ask or need.
If you suspect your infant or toddler is not developing at the right pace or is not meeting milestones on time, discuss it with your pediatrician right away. Some signs to look for that may be pointing toward Autism can be seen as young as six months (Source: AutismSpeaks.org) and are more obvious by two years of age.
- A six month old child should express happiness in some way, such as smiling.
- A nine month old child should be able to have a "conversation" with someone by exchanging sounds or babbling in a back-and-forth manner.
- A one year old child should make babbling sounds, point and reach, show things to you and wave his or her hand bye-bye.
- A 16 month old child should have some actual vocabulary, even if it is 2-3 words.
- A two year old should use his or her own, unique and meaningful 2 word phrases, and not just mimic or repeat a phrase.
- A child who once demonstrates any of these speech or social skills and then loses them is a reason to contact the doctor and open a discussion.
- A child should respond to their name being called and direct their attention when an adult points and tells them to look at something.
- A child should make eye contact with people, even if you consider him or her very shy.
These are not definitive proof that a child is Autistic, but they are what we call indicators that there may be a developmental issue. Unfortunately, in the case of Autism, there is no clinical blood test to diagnose it, nor is there any cure for it! What needs to happen is awareness, education, and funding for research.
What can you do? Wear blue today! Educate your family and friends! If you have a friend with an Autistic child, invite them out and include them in an activity. Reach out to them with acceptance and love. Show them you are interested and then, dig deep and donate to a great Autism research charity such as Autismspeaks.org or the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism.
Contact me, Joan Lowell, with your questions about Au Pair Childcare or Autism, at jlowell@goaupair.com or 401.309.1925. Rhode Island area families are eligible for a sweet Locals Only Discount when you sign up and host an out-of-country au pair!
