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  • Understanding your autism: Guidance for children and parents – Session 4

Reviewing your toolkit

Today we’re going to spend some time looking at all the cool tools and skills you’ve been learning.  

Have you tried out anything we talked about last time? 

Is there anything you’d like to ask or talk about again? 

We can also look at any other tools you think would help you. 

Here are some of the tools we’ve talked about so far: 

Assertiveness – Learning how to tell people what you need or want. This can help you feel braver when talking to others. 
Looking at thoughts – Learning how to notice thoughts that make you feel upset or worried, and how to challenge them. 
Sensory regulation – Learning what helps you when the world feels too loud, bright, or busy. Things like mindfulness and grounding can really help! 

What’s next for you? 

We’ll also spend some time thinking about what’s next now that you know more about yourself and your autism. 

 
It’s important to remember: Your diagnosis is not something bad, it’s a part of who you are. Knowing this can help you understand yourself better, and help you be kind to yourself when things feel tricky. 

Let’s talk about what you’ve learned

  • My autism challenges: What are some things that can be tricky for you? 
  • My autism strengths: What are some good things about your autism? Maybe you’re really creative, kind, or notice things others don’t.  
  • My personal toolkit: What tools have you found helpful? 

Goal setting: 

Setting goals can help you feel proud of your progress and make things feel less scary. 

Short-term goal examples: 

  • “I want to do my homework every day this week.” 
  • “I’m going to try to say hi to someone new at school.” 
  • “I’ll spend 5 minutes every morning doing something calming to start my day.” 

Long-term goal examples: 

  • “I want to learn to cook my favourite meal.” 
  • “I want to take up a new sport or hobby” 
  • “I want to be able to ask for help when I need it, even if it feels hard.” 

Self-care and what comes next 

Now that we’ve finished these four sessions together, what’s next? 

We hope these sessions have helped you learn more about yourself and your autism. If you have any questions or worries, please let us know, we’re here to help. 

Please note: We are not an emergency service, if you are in crisis and need urgent support or are worried about immediate risk of harm to self or others, please call 999. Alternatively, you can contact your GP and ask for an emergency appointment or visit your local A&E department. You can also contact the following services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: NHS Helpline (111) and Samaritans (116 123).