With my students, if they had something they were interested in I would find ways to expand those interests and find people with similar interests. If I could not find someone with those interests I would explore that area. My goal was to know about more about their interests than they did, I learned about Presidents , I learned about Pokémon. I had to teach them about reading. They could read but they did not increase their knowledge by reading. They read words without grasping thoughts. I had too slow down their reading. I had to have them mark all commas and periods. Each child then would read, in popcorn style. The problem was they would read count ahead to see when they would read their next paragraph. They were very smart and they did not like to read not in to same order They had certain preferences, I tried to work with those preferences. I tried to make them comfortable and then I would attempt to stretch them by changing the situation. The idea was to make them uncomfortable as uncomfortable as I could without them exploding. When they reached that point I would back them down to they were comfortable again. Then I would start making them uncomfortable again. Every time I did it I was able to move them farther. and farther to make them toward becoming more social able. It was a challenge and it was required to change them, You cannot make them more social able by allowing them to decide what they like to do. They get stuck in their little worlds and they will stay there unless you force them out. It is not easy but to do but if you want them to grow and live in the real world you cannot . allow them to be comfortable all the time.
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Swimming, piano, dance, art, horseback riding, drama club starts next month, leo club. All are OT & Socializing, very helpful. Also walking. As a matter of fact, just tonight we went out with some close neighbors for a long walk down to Dunkin Donuts. My daughter & her friend were enjoying themselves, being social while getting there excersize

@MyAutismTeam users... ....Try to find areas where your child excels,or find interests that can be expanded apon.Something that your child does Well,or Really Enjoys Doing is the best choice.But you may have to do a bit of Positive Parent Persuasion .........In some instances you can't really give them a choice and ask them WHAT they want to DO, because like most kids often Do, they will Often stubbornly insist on Doing Nothing.Individual activities such as Swimming,Gymnastics,Dance,InstrumentalMusic ,Karaoke,Cooking,and Arts and Crafts,are all good choices.Find some where Public that your child can participate in one or some of these activities along side others with the same similar Interests,without having to interact with others directly.But where they would be given the opportunity to interact and socialize once they feel more comfortable and more confident.You can enroll Your child in a program like Big Brothers,Big Sisters that would give them someone who can Mentor them and Someone that they can actually Connect with and Look up to.In order to feel more Comfortable,they will Most likely have to be Out of their Comfort Zone,at least for a while at First.

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A MyAutis...

A MyAutis...

A MyAutis...

I’m 19 and struggle a ton with social events/situations. I am much more comfortable/accepted around adults rather than teens my age, which I assume is because I’m an “old soul” and adults can understand my situation/needs better than teens. Teens kinda act like there’s something wrong with me, like “why don’t you want to sleep over?” “you don’t want to go to a concert or movies?” 0.0 “eh, no...” I’m trying to be myself - though at times I frustrate myself not being “normal” like others. Normal is boring right??? Anyways, I second the acting suggestions! I took acting classes a lot when I was younger and thrived in drama at school (when I could attend primary school long ago). Really was much fun! I also learned to cancel out distractions better (I took $$ pre-professional acting classes, good if your kid shows great interest as I did) and eye contact skills improved (maybe I should take the classes again as a brush-up)! Also sports!! I ice skate and run - both great for a mix of individualism and teamwork! :)

Due to the Sensory Integration disorders involved, bowling is an excellent choice. The weight of the ball gives them a relationship to gravity, and movements are like free pt!