Teaching Autistic Kids to Talk About Their Feelings

The video, presented by Carrie Sousa Woodward, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, explores how to help autistic children articulate their internal states—emotions and physical sensations. She emphasizes that this is a complex skill requiring strong prerequisites: a solid language foundation for describing visible objects and an existing vocabulary for emotions in others. Two main strategies are highlighted: public accompaniment (observable cues like facial expressions, body language, or environmental triggers) and collateral responses (behaviors that accompany internal states, such as holding the stomach when in pain). By pairing these cues with language, children learn to connect feelings with words. Examples include teaching children to say “my tummy hurts” when showing signs of stomach pain, or “I feel anxious” in noisy, crowded settings. Repetition and natural opportunities are key. Ultimately, the video stresses that building this language empowers children with independence, enabling them to express needs and manage discomfort confidently.