Household Chores for Children with Autism

Depending on the severity of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) symptoms, most children are capable of performing household chores. However, teaching domestic work requires adapting to the individual needs of the autistic child. Before involving the child in any activity, it’s important to consider their personal characteristics, interests, and age.

How to Teach and Organize Household Chores?

You should follow the principle of “to each according to their abilities…” This means that children with high-functioning autism can be delegated more complex tasks. For example, cleaning the house, washing dishes, using a washing machine, hanging up laundry, and preparing simple meals.

Children with more pronounced manifestations of ASD can be given simpler tasks, such as watering plants, cleaning up toys, folding laundry, and sorting groceries.

Tips for Teaching Household Chores to Children with Autism

• Visual Instructions and Cues: Use visual prompts to help the child understand the steps of an activity and incorporate them into their daily routine.
• Focus: It is essential to perform one household task daily for 15-20 minutes to reinforce the habit.
• Break Down Tasks: Break a large task into smaller, manageable parts. For instance, if the task is to sort items into piles, start with one category (e.g., socks).
• Comfort and Pace: When teaching any task, avoid rushing the child and allow them the time they need to complete it.
• Consider the Child’s Interests: Choose household chores based on what the child enjoys or finds engaging.
• Motivation and Rewards: Create a reward system for completing tasks successfully, and remember to thank and praise the child for their effort.

Benefits of Household Chores for Children with ASD

By doing daily household chores, autistic children not only acquire important social skills that help them become more independent at home, but they also improve their self-esteem and gain confidence. Household tasks teach responsibility, enhance focus, and help develop adaptive skills. You can start as early as 6-7 years old, gradually increasing the number of tasks.

Stem Cell Transplantation – A Promising Therapy for Autism

Stem cells have a unique ability to differentiate into various types of cells, making them potentially useful for repairing damaged tissues and normalizing processes disrupted by autism. The goal of stem cell transplantation is:

• Reducing Inflammation: Stem cells can have anti-inflammatory effects, which is important for reducing brain inflammation often found in people with autism.
• Stimulating Neurogenesis: They may help restore neurons and improve neuroplasticity, which can enhance brain functions related to behavior and learning.
• Influencing Neurotransmitters: Stem cells may affect the chemical balance in the brain, improving synapse function and neurotransmitter systems, which is crucial for normalizing behavior.

The advantage of stem cell transplantation for autism treatment is that it can address the biological mechanisms of the disorder and improve brain functions, unlike traditional methods that often focus on symptomatic treatment.

The Mardaleishvili Medical Center in Georgia performs stem cell transplants for children aged 5 and older. We invite you to learn more about the procedure!