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Nature vs Nurture

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momsparky
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31 Dec 2011, 4:00 pm

"Steer" would be a strong word, but any social skills I have now I learned from Shakespeare. Acting classes are basically what counselors have kids do in social skills classes: they call it "role-playing," but it's just as scripted there. Acting has the additional benefit of instruction on what to make your face look like when you're feeling certain emotions, and learning the "subtext" or unspoken parts of language (pragmatic speech anyone?)

That being said, I would be careful: the sad truth is that many people who teach acting to kids shouldn't be trusted with them. Make sure whatever program you choose for your child has a teacher who's been vetted somehow (most schoolteachers have had background checks, and some schools require them for any volunteers.)

Second, there is a trend in acting to avoid: acting on impulses, or intuition - I almost had a breakdown in college when I had a professor who kept yelling at me for "thinking too much." This may work for some neurotypicals, but for an Aspie (or whatever I am) who does everything cognitively and consciously, it's incredibly frustrating. There are many schools of thought about acting, and some do rely on thinking things through carefully.

Wow - sorry for the lecture, but I hope it helps!



seekingtruth
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31 Dec 2011, 4:44 pm

momsparky wrote:
"Steer" would be a strong word, but any social skills I have now I learned from Shakespeare. Acting classes are basically what counselors have kids do in social skills classes: they call it "role-playing," but it's just as scripted there. Acting has the additional benefit of instruction on what to make your face look like when you're feeling certain emotions, and learning the "subtext" or unspoken parts of language (pragmatic speech anyone?)

That being said, I would be careful: the sad truth is that many people who teach acting to kids shouldn't be trusted with them. Make sure whatever program you choose for your child has a teacher who's been vetted somehow (most schoolteachers have had background checks, and some schools require them for any volunteers.)

Second, there is a trend in acting to avoid: acting on impulses, or intuition - I almost had a breakdown in college when I had a professor who kept yelling at me for "thinking too much." This may work for some neurotypicals, but for an Aspie (or whatever I am) who does everything cognitively and consciously, it's incredibly frustrating. There are many schools of thought about acting, and some do rely on thinking things through carefully.

Wow - sorry for the lecture, but I hope it helps!


Very helpful and very appreciated! Thank you!


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mom77
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02 Jan 2012, 4:35 am

thanks everyone --this has become an interesting discussion
I'm a bit overwhelmed with work right now, hoping to read this through a bit better in a few days



mom77
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03 Jan 2012, 11:01 am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcU3RJqIfyg

Dr. Tony Attwood addressing this question



blondeambition
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03 Jan 2012, 4:22 pm

mom77 wrote:
Doing an evaluation for my 16yr old was very eye opening

I learned that I have many many aspie traits, which seem to run in my family. I will not do an evaluation for myself only because I can't afford it.

Something got me wondering----the psychologist evaluating my daughter asked if she engaged in imaginative play as a child. I had no idea. I honestly didn't remember, presumably because it wasn't something significant for me. I never played with dolls as a child. The most I would do is sew clothing for my Barbie. I enjoyed building toys and puzzles much more. I know that they've owned dolls and dollhouses. No idea if they actually used it for imaginative play. Was never something I payed attention to. I do know that my now 10 year old only asked for a doll once, and, like her mom, wanted it only in order to create clothing for her.

So, my question is this: Being that I never sat down in "imaginative play" with my kids, would that alone cause them to not have an interest?

Gosh, I feel like such a horrible parent right now! I gave them lots of attention through and did a lot of art, music, reading, puzzles---things I found interesting--but I don't remember having a tea party with my daughters (4 of them!)

Nature vs Nurture??


Another Barbie doll clothing maker! Cool! I also made furnishings for their houses.

At home, I had a whole lot of Barbie stuff, but didn't use it for imaginitive play. At daycare, I played with Lincoln Logs, Legos, Etch-a-Sketch, Magna Doodle, Pick Up Sticks, Battleship, Mastermind, and other "boy toys."

You can't put a square peg in a round hole, I think. It is not really reasonable to expect an Aspie parent to engage in pretend play with kids who are not interested in it either. Everyone doesn't have to play the same way., I think.

Pretend play is a means to an end, I think. It is one way (not the only way) to socialize with your kids and to teach them.

Your kids probably were exposed to pretend play at school or daycare whether they wanted it or not, so don't beat yourself up too much.

I think that Aspies have strong needs for artistic and other "Aspie" activities, so it is good that you provided these activities for your kids.


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