How to Teach Autistic Children the ABCs
- 1). Teach the alphabet song to the child with a visual of the letters to sing along with. Repeat the song with the letter images over and over again on a regular basis for a period of days or weeks, depending on how quickly the child picks up on the song and letter recognition. Go slowly at first and make sure there are no objects around to distract his attention away from the letters or the song. Be patient and willing to work with his compulsive or ritualistic behaviors instead of against them. For example, do not start the song over again when you did not complete the one before it. Reward him at the end of each session for good behavior and for making a good effort to learn the alphabet.
- 2). Work on individual letter recognition. Use flash cards of upper- and lower-case letters to quiz him on which letters are which. When he gets a letter right, praise him and set that one to the side. When he gets a letter wrong, kindly correct him and add it to the bottom of the stack. Be open to suggestions from him about how he prefers to learn the letters, and do your best to adapt to his way of learning.
- 3). Teach the sounds of the letters. Many times, an autistic child has a subject she is very interested in or a skill she is really good at. Find words that relate to her favorite subject or skill to teach her the sounds of the letters. You can also use characters or scenes from her favorite television show. Use images alongside the letters and have her practice the sounds of the letter within the word.
