Today we will discuss 12 effective and supportive activities that help Improve Eye Contact and Name Response in children with Autism. There are several activities that you can do at home to enhance your children’s eye contact. In this blog, we will share activities that, when incorporated into your daily routine, can gradually improve your child’s eye contact. Eye contact in autism can be challenging for many children.
Table of Contents
Why Eye Contact in Autism is Important
Eye contact plays an important role in How children engage with their environment. It helps them communicate, understand social interactions, and learn from the activities happening around them. Without eye contact, a child may miss essential learning opportunities that are fundamental to communication. Eye contact, joint attention, and response to their name are three key components that play an important role in a child’s learning and communication.
How Sensory Issues Affect Eye Contact in Autism
Sometimes sensory issues can affect an autistic child’s ability to make eye contact. Children with visual sensory challenges may find it difficult to maintain eye contact with autism. because it makes them feel distressed and uncomfortable. This is why children with autism may avoid looking at others. It is important for parents not to force their child to make eye contact but to create a supportive and comfortable environment that encourages it. With daily practice and gentle encouragement, eye contact in autism can gradually improve.
if a child avoids eye contact even when their name is called several times or rarely responds, parents need to focus on strategies to help him improve eye contact. Even if the child does not have specific sensory challenges but struggles with paying attention, working on eye contact can still be beneficial.
Activities to Improve Eye Contact in Autism
These activities apply to both name responding and eye contact. Often children with autism may not want to listen to others. In such a situation, if we capture their attention by engaging in their favorite activity, the best improvement can be achieved. It is important to consider the quality time you spend with the children. Play with them, talk to them very politely, and avoid getting angry. If they make a mistake, try to help them understand by maintaining eye contact. Believe me, these children can learn.
1. Awareness of Name and Surroundings
- We will take a box and put some coins or stones inside, then close the box.
- Ensure that a shiny item or a shiny page is pasted on the box to attract the child’s attention.
- Children often do not pay attention, so use the sound box to draw their focus.
- Say the child’s name and shake the box. Shake it in all directions—up, down, left, right, etc.
2. Use of Reinforcer for eye contact in autism
- You can place a lighted toy or textured item in the child’s hand that they enjoy and get their attention by calling their name or playing with them.
- Whether your child is a sensory seeker or sensory defensive, tactile stimulation works wonders in both cases. You can also encourage eye contact through sensory activities.
- When the child starts enjoying the reinforcer, bring the toy in front of your eyes and try to establish eye contact with the child.
- After some time, take the toy from the child, then return it, and try to regain their attention repeatedly.
- This encourages the child to look at you while playing.
3. Make a Sensory Bin for eye contact in autism
- You can use these shiny wrappers to attract kids’ attention. Since this is a visual activity, kids may focus on you by watching the shiny wrappers. By using these wrappers, you can call out to your kids and encourage them to make eye contact with you.
- You can also teach your child to blow using wrappers. Tear the wrappers into small pieces and encourage your child to blow them. Blowing is an important first step in speech therapy, and with continued practice, the child will gradually start mastering this skill.
- Hold it near your eyes and blow.
4. Use a Bubble Gun or Bubble Toy
- Blow the bubbles and encourage the child to look at you. When you and your child blow the bubble, praise them by using words like ‘That’s good’, wow, etc. so that the child enjoys the activity and gives you a better response.
- Keep in mind that you should make eye contact with the child from time to time while playing.
5. Peek-a-boo Playing Games
- Playing games like Peek-a-Boo and Hide and Seek can naturally motivate a child to make eye contact in autism. These games have shown significant improvement in eye contact.
- At first, your child may not show much interest in these activities, but gradually, they begin to engage more.
- I also improved my son’s eye contact by playing these games with him. Initially, when I would hide, my son couldn’t find me and would even hide. Over time, I started hiding whenever he wanted something, like his favorite toy or food, and eventually, he began trying to find me.
6. Use of Vibrating Toys for eye contact in autism
- A vibrating toy can sometimes be used to improve eye contact in autistic children. Toys that have both light and sound can be particularly effective. Children enjoy playing with these toys and often find them engaging
- You can encourage the child to make eye contact by holding these toys in front of your eyes. Through such simple activities, the child will begin making eye contact, and over time, the duration of the eye contact will gradually increase
7. Use a Sticker or Bindi
You can stick bindis or stickers all over your face. Ask them to child, remove the bindis or stickers themselves. When the child removes a bindi or sticker, they should make eye contact with you. This is a great activity to improve eye contact.
8. Sings Songs with Actions
- To encourage eye contact with children, you can use rhymes like ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’ or ‘Johny Johny Yes Papa’ etc.
- You can make eye contact with children by using rhymes or songs that they enjoy.
- You can also incorporate gestures with the songs and encourage your child to imitate them.
- If they don’t imitate you, you can help by gently guiding their hands. This also promotes body awareness and helps them learn imitation.
9. Use of Mirror
- You can also use a mirror to improve eye contact in autism.
- For example, take your child with you and make different faces in the mirror. This will help develop a connection between you and your child, which will improve eye contact in autism.
10. Favourite Snacks
- You should keep your child’s favorite food, like snacks or anything else they like, within your sight. Call your child by their name and encourage them to take the snack from you.
- When your child takes the snack from you while making eye contact, you can praise them by saying things like ‘Wow, good job,’ or other motivating words.
- You also need to manage their height. For example, if you are sitting down and they are standing, it will be easier for eye contact to be made.
11. Use of Eyemask
You can also use an eye mask to improve eye contact in autism. This mask can be made at home using cardboard.
Place the mask in front of your eyes, call the child by their name, and then place the same mask in front of your child’s eyes and call them. Through this activity, you can teach your child to respond to their name as well as encourage eye contact.
12. Tickling your child
- You can tickle your baby. This is the time when children make the best eye contact.
- Try to make eye contact with children while playing.
- When you move your finger from a distance and bring it closer, you will notice that the child makes very good eye contact. If he does not respond to you initially, gradually, he will start responding.
Conclusion
Lastly, I would like to say that it is very difficult for autistic children to make eye contact, but they can gradually improve over time. Eye contact in Autism cannot develop in a single day, but with patience, you will start seeing positive responses
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why is eye contact uncomfortable?
sometimes sensory issues can affect an autistic child’s ability to make eye contact. Children with visual sensory challenges may find it difficult to maintain eye contact. because it makes them feel distressed and uncomfortable.
Why do autistic people struggle with eye contact?
Autistic people are uncomfortable making eye contact due to sensory challenges. They have to deal with social interaction difficulties, emotion regulation issues, and non-verbal communication while making eye contact. They tend to focus on one spot when making eye contact, so it can be quite difficult for them to have a conversation.
Why do people avoid eye contact?
Sometimes sensory issues can affect an autistic child’s ability to make eye contact. Children with visual sensory challenges may find it difficult to maintain eye contact. because it makes them feel distressed and uncomfortable. This is why children with autism may avoid looking at others. It is important for parents not to force their child to make eye contact but to create a supportive and comfortable environment that encourages it.
How to get an Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) child to respond to a name?
To help an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) child respond to their name, create a calming environment, and minimize distractions from the surroundings. Use name-calling activities like Peek-a-boo, Hide and Seek, and the use of favorite toys or reinforcers while calling their name.
Will an autistic child cry?
Yes, an autistic child can cry just like any other child. However, the reasons for an autistic child crying may be different in some cases. Some of the reasons for crying are:
1) Sensory overload
2) Communication challenges
3) Changes in routine
4) Frustration and difficulty with tasks
5) Emotional regulation challenges