Teaching hygiene to a child is difficult, especially when the child is on the Autism Spectrum. Children often do not see the need for hygiene as germs and bacteria do not make sense to them. Due to oversensitivity, many children on the Autism Spectrum find activities such as showering or using the restroom difficult. How do parents teach Autistic children how to use the restroom and practice proper hygiene? Claire Hope’s book, Potty Training & Autism Spectrum Disorders, How to Teach Autistic Children Hygiene Skills, provides basic tips for teaching Hygiene.
Short But Sweet
One of the greatest features of Claire’s book is its size. It is only 42 pages, easily read within a day. As we are often busy, finding time to read books is difficult for many of us. Claire’s book quickly dives into the subject matter, with no filler or fluff. The book’s goal is to offer guidance on teaching hygiene to autistic children, and it does. It took me 30 minutes to read the book from start to finish. Given what I learned, it was a worthwhile 30 minutes.
Common Hygiene Problems of Children with Autism
The book opens by discussing the common problems autistic children have in maintaining proper hygiene. Many autistic children do not understand the need for good hygiene, as they are often overstimulated or fail to understand social conventions. Most have problems modeling behavior and understanding how to maintain proper hygiene. Also, many have problems following complex tasks, such as potty training, and will refuse or give up.
This section does an excellent job breaking down the difficulties children with autism face regarding hygiene. The book also discusses obsessions over hygiene, which can occur due to OCD tendencies often displayed in Autism. A child can become obsessed with hygiene and over-washing, leading to problems later. While this chapter is based on, it covers most concerns parents with an Autistic child will face.
Potty Training, Baths & Showers
The next two chapters cover how to potty train an autistic child and also how to get them to take a bath or shower. These two chapters are the heart of the book and are worth the price of the book. Key points include making your child comfortable with the experience, which can be overwhelming for someone with Autism. Those without Autism cannot understand how painful our senses can be. The feel of a washcloth may be painful to someone on the spectrum. The book covers overstimulation and how to help your child become accustomed to it. One simple trick is to take your child into the bathroom a few times a day to get used to the room and practice all bathroom-related activities there. This way, they associate using the restroom with these activities, so they know when to return.
Taking a bath or shower can also be difficult due to the water temperature or pressure. Claire recommends creating a daily schedule of “non-negotiables,” activities that must happen. Hygiene is included on this list because it is important to teach this behavior early. In working with your child, determine what is difficult about the situation. If your child does not want to take a bath, ask yourself whether it is the water temperature, the water pressure, or the soap or shampoo you are using. Try many different combinations until you find the problem. As children with Autism often have problems communicating, you have to play the role of a scientist in finding out the problem. Also, breaking activities into steps helps repeat them. Autistic children often struggle with complex tasks, which can be helped by breaking them into steps.
Oral & General Hygiene
Getting a child on the spectrum to brush their teeth can be daunting. Claire recommends you model this behavior so they can see it is safe. The feel of the toothbrush can be painful, and the taste of toothpaste can be unpleasant. Have your child touch and feel the toothbrush to become used to the texture. Try different toothpastes and toothbrushes until one fits. Oral Hygiene may take some time, but it is worth it.
General hygiene is also covered, including handwashing, stress, anxiety about hygiene, and motivation. Motivation is a significant factor in teaching hygiene, which is why many with Autism have problems with it. Making a game out of these activities will go a long way toward teaching your child these skills.
In Conclusion
Much more is covered in the book than what is addressed in this review. You can find the book on Amazon and download it to your smartphone or tablet. As of this writing, the book costs $5.97. I bought it two years ago when it was free, so this may happen again. For a book that costs less than $6 and takes only 30-60 minutes to complete, it is worth the purchase. You will learn many techniques for managing potty training and improving hygiene. I recommend this book to anyone who has a child on the spectrum.
Purchase E-Book Format on Amazon
You can reach me at my website or call me directly at 832-559-3520 if you have any questions. Thank You!
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