One Day at The Park

Takiwātanga and an autistic child’s fear. The autistic child being my son. Since a particular incident, he has always been afraid of dogs, making our park walks challenging. Being autistic, he needs more time to adjust to certain situations. Therefore, we’ve embraced Takiwātanga, meaning “in his own time and space,” to help with his fear.

One day, we saw a gentle dog with its owner in the park. At first, my son saw the dog from a distance. Gradually, we approached slowly. As a result, he held my hand tightly but kept walking instead of running away like he used to.

Not Afraid of Dogs Anymore

It took us many encounters with dogs before he could finally brave himself to walk past them without panicking. For instance, there have been many occasions where we had to walk past different dogs. Each time, he got a bit closer and felt a bit braver. Additionally, staying beside him and following what he wanted to do really helped him overcome his fear. Nevertheless, he is still afraid of unleashed dogs but has made great improvements. In the end, he’s stronger now, all in his own time and space.

Seeing my son face his fears has been incredible. It shows the power of patience and understanding. Are you applying Takiwātanga with your loved ones as well? Embracing Takiwātanga and helping my autistic child’s fear has made a world of difference for us. It’s about allowing progress at their own pace.

Our journey with Takiwātanga has been rewarding. If you believe in “in his own time and space,” check out this T-shirt I created! It’s a reminder to support and understand those who need extra time. Let’s spread awareness and support each other.

Watching my son grow has been a beautiful experience. I hope our story inspires you to embrace patience. Join us in supporting this wonderful approach. I have also created other products with encouraging messages. They make great gifts for yourself or your friends and family. You can find them here .