Little girl was asked if her cousin with autism was a ‘bad kid’ for throwing tantrums — her response is earning admiration
It can be difficult for parents to help children understand conditions like autism and ADHD. It might be even more challenging for their little minds to understand why a person on the spectrum has tantrums or mood swings and things of the sort. A mom named Julie revealed that when she asked her little girl about autism, she had a beautiful response in store. While she didn’t quite understand the term, having Prince, a cousin brother with autism, had educated her about the tantrums, and the mother-daughter duo were able to arrive at an eye-opening and admirable conclusion.
Autism Advanced Services recommends teaching children about autism using terms and guidance that are age-appropriate. They should create an open space for siblings or fellow kids to voice their confusions and understand better why an autistic child behaves the way he or she does. Furthermore, it is also suggested that parents help kids understand that the behaviors of an autistic child, especially tantrums and impulses, are not born out of negativity but come from solid reasons. Julie ensured she practiced all of this while teaching her daughter, Cali, about autism.
When Julie asked Cali what she knew about autism from her cousin brother having it, she started sharing her observations. “They avoid eye contact,” she told her mum, while adding that they often repeat their statements. “Like they keep saying, ‘Everyone listen to me, everyone listen to me,’” Cali recalled. Julie then asked her daughter what she thought of her cousin’s tantrums. To this, Cali responded by saying that she stays away to avoid getting hurt when he’s upset and impulsive. Julie then asked whether the boy was “a bad kid for throwing tantrums.”
The little girl ever so sweetly told her mom, “He is a good kid even though he fights and he throws tantrums.” Recalling what her mum had taught her about autism and tantrums, she said, “His brain is just 4 years old now.” In the text overlay, the mom mentioned in Filipino that she didn’t want to give a rigid or defined perception for her daughter’s young mind, and so told her that the boy’s brain is a little younger than his age. Cali relayed the same thing back to her mum, explaining that it didn’t make her cousin a bad kid.
Agreeing with her, Julie pointed out that Cali and her cousin were of the same age, and added, “Your brain is 6 years old. And his brain is?” “4 years old,” the girl replied. “That’s why he acts like a 4-year-old sometimes,” the mom sweetly explained. To conclude the discussion, Julie asked her daughter what she thinks her cousin "needs" while he's throwing a tantrum. “A hug!” she happily replied. Her mom added, “Those people who have autism, they need to be helped, understood and loved,” asking her child whether she loved her cousin brother. The little girl excitedly responded, “Yes!” before giving her mum a big hug too.
Summarizing her viewpoints in the caption, the mom wrote, “They are not bad kids! They need our help. Teaching my child about autism is like a small step towards making the world somehow a better place for people with autism — like our lovely Prince.” In a comment, the mom shared a picture of the little girl and her cousin together. Many parents appreciated the way the mom explained the topic to the girl. Karen Jean Panganiban wrote, “Thank you for this. I have a son with autism.” Desiree Taguba added, “Thank you for sharing this valuable information about autism. It's indeed a step towards creating a better world for them!”