Part of having friends is being able to participate in the events peers enjoy.
A major focus of an Autism treatment program must be developing skills that will allow your child to participate in social activites with friends. I've listed just a handful below.
- Swimming-When: early as possible. Skills to learn: for sure being able to swim underwater, tread water, use floats for fun, play water games...be completely safe in a pool. Why: because kids have lots of pool parties, go to water parks and love to swim together.
- Skating- when:...early as possible. Skills to learn: how to skate, skating at a skating ring, skating in a park, how to fall safely Why: Because skating and modifications of it (scooter, skate board, etc) are major social activities, especially boys but girls too.
- Bicycle- when: as early as possible. Skills to learn: riding without training wheels, riding on a path, staying with your friend behind and in front, talking while riding Why: Because people ride bikes together into adulthood starting in childhood.
- Video games- When: Early as possible. What: Start simple, with easy driving games at home. Move up by interest and skill. Why: Game Works, any one? I've heard consultants say they have no use for video games....do they have children? Absolutely, I'm not in favor of hours on end of sitting in front of them. But this IS one of the big social ventures of children and adults. Many kids around here have their birthday parties at Main Event, Game Works, you name it... Note: some children are naturally attracted and naturally good at these. Some are not. You'll have to determine where your child stands. If your child stims on video games, you want to get that resolved with your consultant some time before age 6 or 7. Further note: Remember on these social activities it does not matter if YOU like the activity (as long as it's not sinful or something) It's about your child and friends.
- Going to the movies. When: as early as possible. What: go to any children's movies that come out...go often and work on behavior. Go to the dollar movie. Establish good behavioral expectations early. Why: You want your child to be able to take friends to the movies. Appropriate quiet sitting in the movie theater is a must.
I've listed five activities to get you started. Others include theme park rides, birthday parties, Halloween/Fall festival activities, the list goes on and on. When I say start early, I mean VERY early. We started all these at 3 years old (bike at 2). We set goals, achieved them and set new goals. We did these as a family and it has been important for all of us to be a part.
Please, dear friend, don't underestimate the importance of helping your child get these activity skills under his belt. These activities build friendships...and we want so much for our children to have those.
My heart is with you,
Katherine Lee