What is the best way to interact with a 2 year old who is autistic?

Question

He's very affectionate and follows some commands.

Answer 1

I would really look into floor time. This was wonderful when my daughter was young. The basic premise is that you get involved with what he is doing, imitate his play. Then after he is comfortable with you doing that, then change the play in small ways. You're in his world, and you're expanding it a bit at a time.

My daughter loved sing song talking, so we would sing nursery rhymes in a soft voice all the time around her, and after a few weeks we'd start leaving off the last word of the sentence. We'd wait about ten seconds and then sing it. She started finishing the sentences for us, and so we moved on to leaving off two words, then more. From singing songs, we started singing conversations, and it helped so much with language.

Good luck. When I look back in it, those were some great  years. She was such an angel (oh, she still is, but at eleven she definitely is spirited and independent lol!)

Answer 2

I noticed that many people answered a part of your question, however, I didn't see some things that may assist your child with education.  I would like to suggest using some basic signs (sign language) with your child.  If you use them consistently he/she may be able to communicate with you better.  Also, this helps with the development of speech.  Also, a great method is to use a picture system.  Being that your child is two and you know they he/she has autism have you worked with Babies Can't Wait yet?  They will be able to help you with many resources including speech and language services.  Plus by the time your child is 3 years old he/she should be enrolled into an early childhood program.  This is what I do.  We provide assistance in the 5 domains...personal social skills, cognitive, fine motor, gross motor, and adaptive skills.  The school system also provides speech and language therapy.  At the school they will be able to assist you when working with your child at home.  Our basic teaching method is play.  So when you ask how to interact with your child play and find a way to communicate with her/him that they are comfortable with.  You just have to figure out what works for your child.  

I hope I have helped you.

Answer 3

just play with him.  Keep him social

Answer 4

Play games with him. Easy ones like tic tac toe.

help me with mine please http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;...

Answer 5

some children like this enjoy silly play with a lot of movement-singing row your boat while pulling eash other back and forth

does he seems to avoid sensory input or seek it?  that will influence the games you play

hitting a balloon

hide a ball under his shirt

Answer 6

Interactive songs. My children love these. The ones where you clap together or make silly faces together. One of there favorites is "going on a bear hunt"

If you have a rice table available, it is great to use. If not you can use a large tub with rice in it. just put some little (not to little) "treasures" you and he/she can discover and get really excited when you dig them up. The rice is great for sensory issues.

Answer 7

don't be patronising though, but play with him normally.

Answer 8

I have found it best if you act like you would around any 2 year old...autistic children are not any different from any other child in how they should be treated or interacted with...all autistic children are different..having different social, behavioural issues and should be worked with according to whatever plan any therapists or drs have set...but just everyday interaction...if he's affectionate and can follow some commands that's awesome!  Alot of these kiddos don't interact well at all so definately build on that....continue to show all the love you can...as for commands....autistic children respond well to visual aids so you might want to check into making some PEC's (picture exchange symbols) here's a website that can help with that

http://www.polyxo.com/visualsupport/maki...

If he has issues with behaviour (tantrums, hitting, head banging, etc.) that's just his way of saying hey i'm stressed or  hey whatever we're doing isn't working for me and he just can't put those feeling into words so acting out is the only way he can project his feelings....any fits will be stressful but don't give up...there's so much to autism and every child is different...but getting him into therapies (speech and occupational) will do him a world of good....the sooner he gets into these kind of programs the better he will get down the road....good luck to you and to this wonderfully amazing little boy!  As a side note....i noticed someone said play simple games with him...that's fine to start with but you may find that he gets very bored with simple stuff very easily....Many times these kids are off the charts intelligent and breeze thru simple things like they are nothing....if you see him getting bored easily (which he could express with tantrums) go to something a little more difficult....my daughter taught herself how to get on the internet and play the educational games on like nickjr.com sesame street.com and noggin.com at the age of 2 and breezed thru all of the games for every age group in a matter of 2 months and then was bored...now she's on the playstation 2 and can finish a game in 2 or 3 days....never doubt his intelligence....he WILL surprise you!

Answer 9

Andrew is an idiot.  Autism can be diagnosed at an early age...if you don't know anything about the subject at hand keep your stupidity to yourself.  Sorry...done venting now.

Back to the question at hand.  Play with him like you would any other child.  Whatever is fun...go with it.  (Believe me....he'll let you know if it's something he's not interested in doing or if he's had enough....)

I think it's wonderful that you're interested in his well-being.

Answer 10

How can you know a 2 year old is autistic?

"Follows some commands" He's not a dog... Just treat him as normally as you possibly can, if you treat him autistic that will just make him autistic.

Answer 11

you should learn about the methods to actually start to communicate with your autistic child's language. each childs type of autistic communication is diffrent, but you can learn on how your childs' is structured.  there are some parents out there that have gone the xtra step to leanr there childs langauage! you can too... the couple who did this wrote a book..  look it up. i thin kthere were on the oprah winfrey show!