How to Talk to Your Child About Autism – Using Books as Your Superpower

 How to Talk to Your Child About Autism – Using Books as Your Superpower

(From one sensory parent to another)

So… you’re sitting there with a thousand tabs open, wondering:
“How the hell do I even start this conversation?”
Autism. Diagnosis. Self-understanding. All the big brain stuff.

Let me just say this: you don’t have to have the perfect words.
You don’t need to turn into an overnight child psychologist.
What you need is a good storybook, a blanket, and probably snacks.

Because the truth is… books are our superpower.
And here’s why.




💬 1. Books make the big stuff feel safe

Autism can feel like a scary word when you first say it aloud — even for us grown-ups. But books wrap those big topics in characters, pictures, and stories that help kids say:

“Hey… that’s like me!”
“That’s how I feel sometimes!”

When kids see themselves in a book — flapping, spinning, hiding in a blanket cocoon — it suddenly clicks.
They feel seen. They feel safe.
They feel brilliant.

📚 2. You can read it 50 times… and still not mess it up

Unlike a one-time awkward “talk,” books let you go back, re-read, laugh, pause, or just sit in silence and let things land.

You don’t need to explain every line or overthink it.
Let the story do the heavy lifting.

🌈 3. Stories build pride, not fear

Some books talk about autism like a problem to fix.
No thanks.
We need books that celebrate difference. That highlight strengths. That teach kids that flapping is joy, that spinning is expression, and that being autistic is just another way of being awesome.

💖 4. You're not alone — and neither are they

When you share a story about an autistic character, your child sees they’re not the only one.
And when YOU read that story with them?

You’re saying:

“I see you. I love you. I’m proud of who you are.”

No dramatic monologue needed. Just a quiet moment, a story, and maybe a fluffy blanket.

✨ Looking for the right book?

If you're not sure where to start — well, hi! 👋
I wrote one just for this moment.

📘 Flap, Spin, Zoom!

A joyful, bouncy, rhyming picture book for autistic children and the people who love them.

Your child will meet Tom — a brilliantly neurodivergent boy who flaps when he’s excited, spins when he’s happy, and sometimes gets overwhelmed in noisy places.

It's written with love by a sensory parent (me), for sensory families like ours. 💛

🧁 Final thoughts (and maybe snacks)

You don’t need to get everything right today.
Start small. Start with a story. Start with love.
And if all else fails… chocolate buttons work wonders too.

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