I envied moms with neurotypical kids. It broke my heart to see children talking to their parents, enjoying treats, and just being kids while mine struggled with everything. I refused to believe my child’s challenges were permanent or acceptable traits. I wanted my child to thrive, not just survive.
When doctors and therapists told me to accept my child’s behaviors — like not eating, sleeping, playing, or even hitting himself — as unchangeable, I rejected that notion. I knew my child’s condition was a brain development delay that could be supported. I believed he could lead an independent and successful life. How did I know? Through personal experience, witnessing other families succeed, and research showing that many behavioral traits are physiological and can be improved with the right support.
Remember, your child is human and needs proper food, nutrition, and developmental support. Autism doesn’t mean they need anything different. Here are the five pillars to address your child’s developmental delays.
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1. Your mindset matters
This involves nurturing all aspects of your well-being: physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health, including your belief system. These elements significantly influence both your and your child’s progress.
Engage in activities that promote emotional healing, trauma recovery, meditation, inner work, and shadow work—find what works best for you. Being clear, focused, stable, and calm makes you a much more effective caregiver than being overwhelmed and exhausted, which society often suggests is the norm.
2. Incorporating a natural gut-healing diet
Our gut is connected to the brain via a two-way axis known as the gut-brain axis. What we eat affects our gut, which is the chief producer of various growth, mood, and sleep hormones like serotonin, melatonin, dopamine, etc.
A leaky gut is a real thing, and your baby’s great gut health is the foundational piece to better sleep, mood, health, and progress. Substances made by bacteria in the gut can get into the blood, just like nutrients in our food travel there from the gut.
Also, certain nerves connect the brain and the gut. Bacteria in the gut can send signals through those nerves to the brain. It can stimulate immune system cells in the walls of the gut, and the immune cells can then send signals through the nerves to the brain.
3. Using safe and gentle detoxification
The liver, kidneys, circulatory system, lymphatic system, and other biochemical systems take part in cleaning the body of toxins. The body produces them as byproducts from food, such as pesticides, preservatives, trans fat, colorings, etc.
Helping the detox systems of our body through great food, juices, physical activity, and very little supplementation can skyrocket the process of healing and recovery.
Research in the past decade has found that gut bacteria may influence our emotions and cognitive capabilities.
For example, some bacteria produce oxytocin, a hormone that encourages increased social behavior. Other bacteria produce substances that cause symptoms of depression and anxiety, while still others produce substances that help us remain calmer under stress.
4. Living a holistic lifestyle
Our lifestyle is not what it used to be. Lifestyle is wreaking havoc on the development of children, especially those on the spectrum.
Gadget addiction, little outdoor play, lack of sunlight, weird sleep-wake cycles, environmental stress, family stress, etc., all pile up on us and our precious child’s fragile mind and body.
Ensuring a nurturing lifestyle that is in the genre of “slow living” will fast forward brain development. I promise!
5. Providing need-based parenting
Last but not least, to provide need-based parenting, we have to accept our children for what they are now, have faith in the potential they can reach, and work on it. Acceptance is not giving up; it’s helping the child’s body and brain reach the possible potential.
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Pick your healthcare or support group carefully because what you surround yourself with is what you become. Psychological research proved that we are a combination of the five people with whom we spend most of our time.
FAQs
Q: Can an autistic child improve with age?
A: Yes, with appropriate support and interventions, many autistic children can make significant improvements in their abilities and behaviors as they grow older. Early and consistent therapy can play a crucial role in their developmental progress.
Q: How can I help my autistic child develop?
A: You can help your autistic child develop by providing a structured and supportive environment that includes personalized therapies, educational support, and a focus on their physical, emotional, and social needs. Consistent routines and positive reinforcement can also foster development.
Q: How do I help my autistic child be successful?
A: To help your autistic child be successful, focus on their strengths and provide tailored interventions that address their specific challenges. Encourage their interests, promote independence, and ensure they have access to appropriate educational and social resources.
Q: What parenting style is best for autism?
A: A supportive and nurturing parenting style that is structured and flexible works best for children with autism. This approach should include clear communication, consistency, and a focus on understanding and responding to the child’s unique needs.
References
Anthony L.K. “What’s the connection between the gut and brain?” May 2022. Harvard Health Letters
Maria SJ & Andres. “Nutritional and environmental contributions to autism spectrum disorders: Focus on nutrigenomics as complementary therapy.” International Journal for Vitamin and Nutrition Research Vol 92, 3-4, February 2020.
