Increasing Cooperation in Kids With Autism

Q: My child with autism is refusing to cooperate, how can I get them to listen?

To encourage a child with autism to cooperate and listen, be sure to communicate what you want from them in clear, simple terms. Be as specific as possible: “Please put these plates on the table” instead of “Can you finish setting the table?” When your child cooperates, reward them.

Q: What would help a child with autism who refuses to cooperate?

To help a child with autism who refuses to cooperate, set them up for success by relying on routines, because knowing what’s coming often makes it much easier for kids to cooperate. It helps to use a visual schedule and make sure your child has plenty of warning before changing tasks.

Q: What are tips to help a child with autism who refuses to cooperate?

One tip for helping a child with autism cooperate is to set reasonable expectations. For example, if you know your child struggles with focus, don’t expect them to clean their room all at once. Instead, break the job up into smaller pieces that they can do separately.

Strategies for getting kids to work with you

Writer: Hannah Sheldon-Dean

Clinical Expert: Bethany Vibert, PsyD

en Español

What You'll Learn

How can parents communicate more effectively with kids with autism?
What can parents do to make autistic children more likely to cooperate?

Quick Read

Kids with autism often have trouble following directions, especially in stressful situations. But there are ways that parents can help kids cooperate and keep conflict to a minimum.

First, be sure to communicate in clear, simple terms. Be as specific as possible: “Please put these plates on the table” instead of “Can you finish setting the table?” Having a visual aid like a picture of how the table should look often helps too. And because kids with autism tends to take things literally, try not to be sarcastic or make jokes while you’re giving them directions.

When your child does cooperate, be sure to reward them. Just a high five or an enthusiastic “Great job!” will make them more likely to do what you ask the next time, too.

You can also set kids up for success by relying on routines. Knowing what’s coming often makes it much easier for kids to cooperate, so it helps to use a visual schedule and make sure your child has plenty of warning before changing tasks.

Scheduling plenty of breaks between tasks can also make cooperation easier. And be sure to set reasonable expectations. For example, if you know your child struggles with focus, don’t expect them to clean their room all at once. Instead, break the job up into smaller pieces that they can do separately.

Full Article

5 min read

Cooperation can be a challenge for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) under the best of circumstances. And in stressful situations — when cooperation is often most important — following instructions can get even harder.

Here are some tips to help parents of kids with autism increase cooperation while still respecting kids’ autonomy and keeping fights to a minimum.

Communicating effectively

Following a few simple guidelines can make it much easier to communicate with a child on the autism spectrum — and getting your message across makes cooperation much more likely.

Be simple and direct. “If you want to give effective instruction, you have to be super specific,” says Bethany Vibert, PsyD, a clinical psychologist at the Child Mind Institute. For example, instead of saying, “Can you finish setting the table?” you might say, “Please put the plates on the table.” The idea is to let your child know exactly what your expectations are in the moment, rather than giving them a list of tasks or a general instruction.
Avoid sarcasm, figures of speech and jokes. Kids with autism tend to take things literally, so non-literal speech like sarcasm and jokes can confuse them. And if they’re not sure what you’re asking, it’s hard for them to cooperate. “Saying something vague like, ‘It’s about time you get to that’ might just end up frustrating your child,” Dr. Vibert says.
Use visual aids. Often, children with ASD benefit from having a visual representation of their goal. So if you want them to set the table, for example, having a picture on hand of exactly how the plates should go can be a big help. A list where kids can check off tasks as they go can also make it easier.
Make cooperation rewarding. All kids appreciate acknowledgement for a job well done, so offer small rewards when your child does cooperate. “This could be as simple as a high five or maybe a tickle routine they really enjoy,” says Dr. Vibert. “You really want to make following instructions a positive thing.”

Managing responsibilities

Whether it’s handling homework or keeping up with chores at home, it can be hard for autistic kids to reliably complete tasks. Set them up for success with clear expectations and predictable routines.

Set reasonable expectations. It’s important to be aware of your child’s attention span. Kids with autism may struggle to stay on task for a long period of time, which can make it harder for them to do what you’re asking. Help them plan tasks accordingly, like doing homework in short bursts or breaking chores up into steps that don’t take too long.
Take plenty of breaks. Once your child completes a task, encourage them to take a break with some physical activity, whether that’s going for a walk, playing in the yard or dancing to a favorite song. “An active break will make them a little less antsy and restless,” says Dr. Vibert.
Use a visual schedule. Having a clear visual schedule can help your child see what’s coming and motivate them to stick with tasks they might not like. Dr. Vibert recommends a simple “First/Then” format, where you pair a picture of something your child needs to do with a picture of the reward they’ll get afterward. For example, “If” might be picking up their toys while “Then” is a favorite snack.
Be creative. If your child tends to struggle with the same kinds of tasks over and over again, try alternate ways of completing the same work. For example, Dr. Vibert notes that some kids do better writing by hand than typing. So if your child is supposed to type a homework assignment, you can check with the teacher to see if they can write it by hand instead. Even small adjustments to tasks can make it much easier for your child to cooperate.