How do special needs children deal with puberty?

How do special needs children deal with puberty?

Use direct language and visuals when you talk to your child about the changes happening to their body. If possible, start calling body parts by their correct names and offer clear facts about bodily functions long before your child enters puberty, so they know changes are normal. Urge your child to ask questions.

How do you teach a child about puberty?

Tips on Discussing Puberty with Your Kids

  1. Use actual body part language for genitals.
  2. Keep things short when talking to younger children.
  3. Use day-to-day situations to trigger conversations.
  4. Don’t wait to have “the talk”.
  5. Puberty is a normal part of growing up.
  6. Fake it until you make it.

What are some strategies for puberty?

Healthy lifestyle choices for children in puberty

  • Encourage healthy eating. Your child is likely to have an increased appetite and need more food.
  • Support your child’s physical activity.
  • Encourage healthy sleep routines.

How do you discipline a special needs teenager?

Here are some strategies to help parents discipline a child who has special needs.

  1. Be Consistent.
  2. Learn About Your Child’s Condition.
  3. Defining Expectations.
  4. Use Rewards and Consequences.
  5. Use Clear and Simple Messages.
  6. Offer Praise.
  7. Establish a Routine.
  8. Believe in Your Child.

How do you teach an autistic child about puberty?

Autistic children and teenagers need time and support to prepare for puberty. Start by talking about the differences between child and adult bodies. Careful language, visual supports and social stories can help autistic children understand how their bodies will change. Be prepared for tricky questions about puberty.

What is puberty when does this happen?

Puberty is the time in life when a boy or girl becomes sexually mature. It is a process that usually happens between ages 10 and 14 for girls and ages 12 and 16 for boys. It causes physical changes, and affects boys and girls differently. In girls: The first sign of puberty is usually breast development.

Why is puberty important to a child’s development?

Puberty results in very rapid somatic growth, brain development, sexual maturation, and attainment of reproductive capacity. It is accompanied by final maturation of multiple organ systems and major changes in the central nervous system and in psychosocial behavior (Patton and Viner 2007).

How do you discipline an autistic 12 year old?

Discipline Strategies for Children With Autism

  1. Understand Their Behavior.
  2. Use Positive Reinforcement.
  3. Teach Self-Calming Techniques.
  4. Control Their Environment.
  5. Stick to Routines.
  6. Communicate Clearly.
  7. Ignore Harmless Behaviors.
  8. Put Safety First.

How does puberty affect autistic children?

Takeaway: Children with autism WILL find puberty so much harder because they struggle to make sense of what’s happening to them. Their brains are wired differently from birth, and the wiring changes even more during puberty.

Does puberty worsen autism?

Research is limited on children with autism who are going through puberty. But some experts suggest that while children’s behavior may improve during elementary-school years, it can deteriorate with the physical and hormonal changes that come with adolescence.

Why is puberty important?

Puberty is associated with important developmental changes in physical appearance, self-image, mood, and interactions with others. Many of the changes associated with puberty are physical, and puberty naturally draws adolescents’ attention more to their own bodies and that of their peers.

What are the issues related to puberty?

Puberty begins when your daughter’s body begins producing increased amounts of certain hormones, leading to physical and emotional changes. In girls, changes include breast development, pubic hair growth, a growth spurt, and finally the start of menstrual periods.

What age does a girl start puberty?

8 and 13
Girls generally begin puberty about two years earlier than boys. Puberty for girls usually starts between the ages of 8 and 13. However, Black and Hispanic girls tend to start puberty earlier than white girls (age 7½ instead of 8).

What are some of the challenges faced during puberty?

The common teenage problems that teenagers face today are usually related to:

  • Self-Esteem and Body Image.
  • Stress.
  • Bullying.
  • Depression.
  • Cyber Addiction.
  • Drinking and Smoking.
  • Teen Pregnancy.
  • Underage Sex.

How do you calm an autistic teenager?

What to do during a very loud, very public meltdown

  1. Be empathetic. Empathy means listening and acknowledging their struggle without judgment.
  2. Make them feel safe and loved.
  3. Eliminate punishments.
  4. Focus on your child, not staring bystanders.
  5. Break out your sensory toolkit.
  6. Teach them coping strategies once they’re calm.