Parenting a Child with Asperger Syndrome: 200 Tips and Strategies

by Brenda Boyd

TIP # 29 Use a timer or stopwatch Kitchen timers are generally available quite easily and cheaply and stopwatches can be purchased in sports shops. These items are a great investment for the AS child and can be a great help in giving him the structure and predictability that he needs. He may find a reassuring certainty in hearing the loud beep telling him the time is up. And apart from that they can be great fun to play with! Timers can be useful in many situations, for example: • You need to settle down within the next two minutes. • I want to have 20 minutes of peace without you interrupting me and then I will play a game with you. (If he interrupts, start the 20 minutes over again!) • When you have done 15 minutes of homework then you can watch TV. • You can read in bed for ten minutes and then the light must go out. • Let’s see if you can keep the ball bouncing for three minutes without stopping.