| You want to find out more about Asperger's | | | | * Working with him yourself. Set aside 15 |
| Syndrome, which is more and more common these | | | | minutes a day during Homework Time to play |
| days. You are learning about what doctors are | | | | conversation games. |
| calling the autism spectrum, which ranges | | | | |
| from odd-normal on the one hand to seriously | | | | * Sending him to a special-needs school that |
| impaired, especially socially, on the other. | | | | will help with this. I believe that |
| You desperately want to help your child move | | | | mainstreaming the child without any support |
| toward normalcy on the spectrum. Do not | | | | is not helpful. These children need careful |
| give up! It is quite possible that he can. | | | | coaching on how to interact with others, and |
| You need to provide him with situations that | | | | protection from bullying.Speaking of |
| will give him self-confidence. If you don't, | | | | bullying, this is one of the most damaging |
| the world will deal him the opposite.Here's | | | | situations for your child's feelings of self |
| one key tip: if at all possible, teach your | | | | worth. Mainstreaming may just be exposing |
| child music. People on the autism spectrum | | | | your child to negative interactions, not |
| often have exceptional musical talent, even | | | | positive ones. If this is necessary for your |
| folks who have trouble speaking and learning. | | | | situation, see if you can volunteer at the |
| Perfect pitch is not particularly rare for | | | | school to be nearby, or get the school to |
| them. This will give you child a skill to | | | | hire a shadow for your child. Then talk to |
| excel in, or at least to enjoy, all his life. | | | | that person and tell him exactly what you |
| The problem may be to find a flexible teacher | | | | want them to do: protect the child from |
| who is not intimidated by your unusual | | | | negative interactions with peers. Our |
| student. Look for a professional music | | | | culture tolerates bullying and negative |
| therapist, or someone with experience dealing | | | | teasing, but both of those will be damaging |
| with special needs folks. Requiring | | | | to your child.* Homeschooling may be another |
| practicing every day can be built into your | | | | option for you. There is plenty of |
| system of rewards for your child, a system | | | | information on the Internet available for |
| you need to figure out. This reward system | | | | this. |
| will provide an incentive for doing chores | | | | |
| and homework. The music lessons have worked | | | | * You may be able to find a school that |
| well for my brother as well as my | | | | controls most peer interactions. This might |
| children.Your child probably tends to isolate | | | | be a private special-needs school.In short, |
| himself, and may love to talk and talk about | | | | there are steps you can take to protect your |
| one subject. Patience! During the middle | | | | child's self-esteem. Be sure to take |
| school years, your child will probably begin | | | | them!Phyllis Wheeler has two children with |
| to be more aware that he is being rejected | | | | Asperger's, one now an adult. She |
| socially. Finally, he may be motivated to try | | | | |
| to change his ways! Look for this | | | | also has a brother with high-functioning |
| developmental stage, and when it arrives, do | | | | autism. A writer, |
| everything you can to teach your child social | | | | |
| acceptability.This might include: | | | | she |
| | | | |
| * Social skills groups with other Aspies | | | | has assembled her parenting strategies in a |
| taught by a professional (Speech therapists | | | | ebook called Nurturing |
| are stepping into this need; so are social | | | | |
| workers specializing in coaching kids with | | | | Your Asperger's Child. Sign up for five |
| learning disabilities.) | | | | free newsletters! |
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