What to do about social skills...

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-06-2006
What to do about social skills...
2
Tue, 08-21-2007 - 1:18pm

DS (8) has had an Aspie Dx for almost a year. I feel that his school really stepped up last year to help him...I just don't feel that we are doing enough to help with the social aspect. DS has been in summer day camp (not a special one for ASD.) He has been OK, but he really did not make any friends and told us that the other kids tease him.

So, I want to start second grade with a clean slate and really try to focus my attention on the social piece. Last year, DS was enrolled in a good social skills program, but by the end of the school year, he would get very keyed up and hyper before it started and not be able to calm down and let anything sink in. He was also with other kids with various issues (not all ASD) and some more severe than him. It is just my gut feeling that he would be better served by doing activities with typical kids...perhaps they could be better role models for him...I don't know.

So, my question is, how do I go about this on my own and through the school? We have discussed some kind of "lunch bunch" at school but have not had an enthusiastic response from the school psychologist and SLP. He is in Cub Scouts and swimming and will be accompanying me to DD's ballet class, during which a group of older brothers do the Lego-thing :) He will know one of these boys, and I need some tips on how to help him integrate with the others.

I am also going to try to plan more playdates after school. I was hesitant about inviting one of the boys he is "friends" with through Cubs, b/c his (friend's) behavior was SO bad...but according to DH, it has improved with maturity, so we will try. Also, there is another very nice boy who's mom calls us for playdates, but who DS does not really want to play with. I'm not sure why he doesn't want to, but should I try to do it anyway, or just let him choose who he will and will not play with?

Also, do you tell other parents about the Dx, wait, or keep it quiet?

It is just so hard to watch DS and know that he wants to have friends and play with other kids and has no idea what works and what doesn't. I'm not that good at it either, so I feel quite inadequte when trying to help with this :(

Thanks for any advice.

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-25-2003
Wed, 08-22-2007 - 9:08am

Hi,


Did you try talking to him about his last social skills group and finding out what he liked and did not like about it? Maybe a specific kid set him off, and if that kid is ot in the group this year, he could be OK.

-Paula

visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Wed, 08-22-2007 - 10:33pm

I usually tell the parents of kids who Isaac plays with a lot.

Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting