| It is no secret that children can be cruel and a | | | | participate in actual events with their peers. |
| child that does not appear to fit in can be the | | | | Children with Aspergers and autism will face |
| subject of taunting and ridicule. This present a | | | | internal anxiety if they cannot accept their current |
| major problem for the child and his parents as the | | | | surroundings. Try to teach them not to obsess |
| child will have trouble making and retaining friends | | | | about objects or any preferred items or activities. |
| and other social interactions, and the child with | | | | Work with them to find out what calms them so |
| Aspergers Syndrome can be adversely affected. | | | | that anxiety can be subdued and controlled. |
| First of all, please understand that just because | | | | Normal everyday life at school can present its |
| your child has Aspergers does not mean that | | | | own unique set of challenges, since social |
| they are intellectually limited. Various studies in | | | | interaction is a normal part of school life. Be sure |
| fact have indicated that children with autism and | | | | to let the teachers know about the Aspergers or |
| Aspergers are actually very smart, many times | | | | autism in your child so that they can make |
| being intellectually superior to their peers of the | | | | accommodations for them as they are able to. |
| same age group. Unfortunately, the social | | | | Most schools are happy to work with you and |
| interaction part of their maturity has fallen behind | | | | your child in this respect, but it will take effort on |
| the rest of their maturing process, which presents | | | | both parts. Work with your child at home to help |
| the parents with another challenge along the same | | | | them become comfortable with social interactions, |
| lines. In other words, they are probably not | | | | perhaps starting with just one friend on a |
| intellectually challenged, but simply "socially | | | | one-to-one basis and then increasing to more |
| challenged", and the best thing you can do as | | | | friends. Put them in an environment, even in your |
| parents is to work with them to help them | | | | role-playing, where they will see and recognize |
| overcome that aspect. | | | | success, instead of putting them in a situation |
| One of the best things you can do as parents is | | | | where failure is inevitable. |
| to do role-playing activities or scenarios which | | | | Children with Aspergers or autism need to be |
| would reflect a natural social environment such as | | | | given extra chances to make and retain friends, |
| another child's birthday party or pool party or | | | | build social networks, and understand what is |
| similar setting. Work with the child to help them | | | | acceptable for interacting with others. If you can |
| understand how to join in with the playground | | | | work with them in a role-playing environment, it |
| games, how to converse with their playmates, | | | | will be easier for them to learn these skills. Do not |
| and what is and is not expected of them in this | | | | force them, but rather be positive and supportive |
| type of setting. Helping them to become | | | | so that they will not dread any future social |
| comfortable in this type of setting can go a long | | | | interactions. |
| ways towards helping them fit in when they | | | | |