Aug 13 2008
When normal children mimic autistic behavior.
A younger sibling of a child with autism may mimic the autistic behavior of their older brother or sister. As a parent, you may be concerned about this mirroring behavior and wonder if it is unhealthy for your neurologically typical (NT) child to be exhibiting such behaviors.
However, you should be aware of the fact that a huge part of development is mimicking the behaviors modeled around us. This is how we develop language as well as motor skills.
Although your younger child may be mimicking the abnormal behavior of their autistic sibling, it does not mean that they will learn to be autistic. As they develop, they will learn the difference of what is normal behaviors, and what is not socially acceptable behavior.
It is important for you to provide plenty of opportunities for your younger child to play with children who are not on the spectrum. This way they will have many opportunities to see normal behaviors and to develop normal behaviors.
A daycare setting may be the perfect solution for your younger child. They will have access to lots of other playmates and be in a learning environment that is developmentally appropriate for their age.
In addition, your younger child’s mirroring behavior may be just the thing your autistic child needs to develop better communication skills. As your younger child continues to develop, they may very well understand the reasons behind the abnormal behaviors and be better able to decipher their sibling’s attempts at non-verbal communication and the reasons behind stimming behaviors.
