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Anyone got advice how to explain autism to your child

Puppy14

My 10yr old has been asking lots of questions about autism, she doesn't know how to act & when she has an outburst she says its because I have autism, tonight she was screaming at me said I wish you were dead & when she calm down said sorry mum it's because I have autism. She is also angry because we told her she had it (advised by camhs to tell her) she said why did you tell me & now I wish we didn't.:(

  • tell her - you are you, what you have doesn't make you who you are

    it is also important here to tell her that you will always love her for who she is

  • The child development unit told me not to tell my eight year old daughter, which surprised me.  I did anyway, because she felt bad that she kept having meltdowns and was getting a negative view of herself and I wanted her to know it was because of her condition, that she shouldn't blame herself.

    TBH I don't think there is any easy way, each child is individual.  However, you could have ended up with more problems by not telling her and she found out in the end and was angry for you not telling her why she has spent years feeling different.

    My eldest who is 11 is awaiting assessment, and I told her it's not a mental illness (she was scared by the word syndrome) and it doesn't mean you have something wrong with you, it's just a difference.  I said that it often gives people things they are extra good at, even if there are some negatives to cope with.

  • hi - how long ago was it you told her about autism?  Sounds like she's still coming to terms with it.  I think there's info via the home page about this so if you haven't please have a look.  Other posters will be more help than me.  I haven't been in this position.  My son has never asked - he has classic autism.  I think he has an understanding that there are some things he has difficulty with, but he has never pursued it.  If he were to, then I'd find a form of words to tell him.  He's much younger mentally + emotionally than his yrs.

  • Autism has very positive attributes. There are plenty of hero's for her to look up from Newton, Einstein, Sheldon or Amy(Big Bang),, tell her she is unique and has been given a great gift, if she can unlock the special key.

    http://www.toptenz.net/top-10-autistics-known-today.php