If your autistic child is making up stories regularly then you are not alone, it is relatively common. Below we investigate the behaviour and give you tips on how to manage it.

Autism and making up stories

Raising an autistic child can be a rewarding yet challenging journey.

One relatively common behaviour is creative storytelling, which might seem confusing or unusual to some parents.

In this article, we’ll explore why autistic children may make up stories and provide practical tips on how parents can address this behaviour with love and patience.

First and foremost, it’s crucial to recognise that storytelling is a manifestation of your child’s vivid imagination.

Like any other child, an autistic child has dreams and aspirations, albeit sometimes expressed differently.

Storytelling can be a way for them to process their thoughts, feelings, and experiences.

Embracing their imagination can help build their self-confidence and social skills.

With all that said, if the behaviour is constant and even disrupting development you may want to intervene.

Communication issues

It is well known that autistic children often struggle with verbal communication.

Storytelling might therefore be their way of connecting with others.

Creating stories allows them to express themselves in a safe and creative manner using the language they know and can control.

For example, an autistic child may be confident and comfortable talking about a zoo.

So if they default to telling people they have just been to the zoo, it’s because they want to connect but can’t think of another way to do so.

As a parent, it’s essential to pay attention to their stories and attempt to understand the underlying messages.

Whilst some stories could be complete fabrication, there could be some information that the child is trying to convey.

The behaviour could also be a form of scripting if they are repeating elements of stories heard elsewhere. See our article on scripting here.

Sensory issues

Autistic children often experience sensory processing differences, making certain situations overwhelming or challenging.

Creating stories might serve as a coping mechanism and provide an escape from overwhelming environments.

An example here would be a child struggling with the bombardment of external noises. Using storytelling they can drown out the input and focus their mind on their story.

As parents, being attentive to their sensory needs and creating a calming and supportive atmosphere could reduce storytelling.

Some positives

While storytelling can be a challenging behaviour, it’s essential to encourage and support your child’s verbal communication skills.

A high proportion of autistic children are non verbal and you can bet their parents wish their child would fabricate stories.

So whilst it may be puzzling that your child is making up stories, there are a couple of huge positives.

Firstly they are showing a desire to engage verbally with others and secondly they have the vocal capability to tell the story.

You could also try and use the storytelling to expand your child’s vocabulary. An example would be if they were talking about a trip to the zoo, ask them questions about intricate details.

What did the monkey have for dinner?

What colour was the bear?

This is just to try and embrace a conversation and try to squeeze out some new and different language.

Avenue for socialisation

Storytelling can offer an opportunity to engage in social interactions, even if it may not align with traditional communication patterns.

You can organise activities where storytelling is encouraged in a group setting, providing a supportive environment for social development.

Encouraging your child to collaborate with others in storytelling projects can also foster teamwork and social skills.

Easing your child out of the behaviour

While it’s essential to embrace and encourage your child’s creativity, setting realistic boundaries is equally important.

Help your child understand appropriate times and places for storytelling, ensuring it doesn’t interfere with essential tasks or responsibilities.

By doing so, you can strike a balance between allowing them to express themselves and maintaining structure in their daily lives.

You could try and ease the story into reality.

An example would be if they are talking about the zoo, you could correct them and say you went to the park.

Continuing, you could embrace their desire to talk about animals by mentioning you saw a dog there or similar.

Get professional help

As parents, you don’t have to navigate this journey alone.

Seeking support from professionals, such as therapists, counselors, or autism specialists, can provide valuable insights.

These experts can help you better understand the reasons behind the storytelling behaviour.

They can also devise personalised interventions to address it effectively.

Summary – Autistic child making up stories

Parenting an autistic child requires patience, understanding, and unconditional love.

By recognising the significance of storytelling for your child’s imagination, communication, and sensory needs, you can support their growth and development.

Embrace their creativity, encourage verbal communication, and seek professional guidance when needed.

Together, you can create a world where their imagination is embraced, while keeping grounded in reality.