Despite medical advances in many fields, little is known about autism, and the condition makes it extremely hard for children to integrate into society, and if you are the parent of an autistic child, sourcing a reliable care centre can seem like a daunting task. Fortunately, there are centres that are geared up to accept children with autism, and with care workers that have experience in working with autism, your child will be in good hands while you are at work.

Online Solutions

 Rather than spending a few weeks driving around looking at child care centres, a few hours of Internet browsing will surely produce results, and whether you are looking for child care Melbourne or Sydney parents prefer, an online search will point you in the right direction. When browsing child care centre websites, look for one that welcomes children with special needs, and you can ask the centre if they accept autistic children. Some early learning centres have special needs carers who know how to be with autistic children and understand the needs and fears of the child when first entering a new environment, which can be a very stressful experience for a 3 year old who has autism. The Internet can save you valuable time and if you live in or near a major city, there will be options to explore and, before long, you will have found the ideal place where your child’s condition is recognised.

Visit the Centre

 Once you have narrowed down the selection to one or two, a personal visit is the next step, and prepare a few questions about aspects of their program that you think might be relevant to your child. Look for children with disabilities, although one shouldn’t make this obvious, and by asking the right questions, you will soon be in a position to make an informed decision. It is not recommended you take your child with you on the first visit, as you are yet to make a decision, and there’s no point in subjecting your child to a new environment until you are sure they will be attending. Of course, there are many things a parent can do to help their child overcome difficulties, and there is even an online guide to parenting and autism, which is full of useful information that can help a parent in this situation.

Important Social Skills

 A child care centre that is experienced in working with children with special needs are able to help the child to develop in ways that will help them to deal with their disability, such as developing social skills, which is more important for an autistic child. Social interaction can be stressful for someone who suffers with autism, especially a young child, and with the right interaction, they can make great strides in certain areas.

The First Day

 Children pick up on the emotions of their parents, so make sure you are cheerful and above all, calm on the first day. Reassure your child that this will be an exciting new environment, and one where they will feel secure, and stay for a while, but not too long. Time soon passes and the carers will provide you with valuable feedback upon your return, and as every day passes, your child’s self-confidence will grow, and with autistic children, it is important that they feel safe and secure.

As a parent, it is important that the child care centre fully understands the world of an autistic child, and with experienced careers, your child will be in good hands and will develop in many ways.