trying to get some answers

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I would just like to hear from any parents whose children have already been diagnosed. We have just been told that our five year old son probably has Asperger's and the more we read the more we feel that he could have. Very bright in school, when he can put his mind to it. Little or no eye contact. Always on the go. Very careful about routine, hates anything to change his daily routine. Mood swings and tatrums but one of the most loving children you could wish for. We are hoping thast a parent of a diagnosed child could give us some tips and ideas on how best to look after a child with aspergers PLEASE

Hi Alys - your child is young still, that's good. The sooner you modify his world, the less he'll experience stress.

I would do some research. Some authors to check out would be Tony Atwood, Michelle Garcia Winner, Alan Sohn and Cathy Grayson. Read the posts on this site - lots of practical information from people with experience.

Choose his educational programs with care and see what comes up as he grows. The best advice I ever got was to follow my son's lead. He'll tell you what he needs. Good luck!

I really found this site amazing.
http://www.as-if.org.uk/family.htm

It has a TON of info, all the colour words on it are the different sections, then each section has a ton of different topics.

You are fortuante to get a DX early! Remember, he is not broken, damaged or in any other words, "defective". He just thinks and processes information differently! The world is filled with apples, your son is an orange. Nothing wrong with being an Orange, and as time passes on, and we come to better understand this world, we are discovering more and more "apples" actually are "oranges!

I would also spend some time on here, reading threads started by and for us "oranges" especially ones that talk about "our first aspburger moment" or obsessions threads, or stemming threads. This will help you to better understand the Asperger mind, and also identify other behaviors that your son has, that you may not be aware are caused by his AS.

love your child as if there was nothing different about him.....he deserves your patience and understanding just as any child would. ....remember to be prepared to explain metaphors, or don't speak them......go to the library and take out books....surf the net ....get as much info as possible so you can be prepared to take this journey............and most of all, give yourselves a great big hug !

My 5 year old was also diagnosed recently. The description of your son sounds much like my son. I keep trying to remind myself that the diagnosis does not change who my son is. I treated him as "normal" before and I am trying to do that now. He is my first child, so I didn't have a frame of reference. I just thought thats how infants/toddlers/preschoolers were. I try to focus on the positive. I always thought my son was smart, now I have a doctor agreeing with me. So, instead of working on "book smarts," we have to focus on "social smarts."

That is true. My son is my first, but I now have a 4 year old daugter who is the polar opposite. And we just thought he was himself, a little eccentric. But, now we are trying to help him cope. I have already (in just a couple of days) found this site very supportive. We live in a small community & I know very few people here. So I really just felt lost.

But, jokes may lose there funny as you explain them. Things are really black & white. Don't let his school use him as an example (I made that mistake), he hated kindergarten and going to school was a battle. Some triggers may be easier to figure out. some are harder. ( I have worked around some, but others I just haven't even figured out yet.)

Patience, patience & more patience is needed. But, now that you know and so early you can realize that questions he asks are not because he trying to frustrate you, but, he really don't understand. It isn't so simple for him. Why so&so won't share, or play with him...These things are real for them. He may understand things really well & suddenly when the complexity increases he may suddenly need help breaking it down to a way he understands. Learning ways to help him learn more effeciantly will help for school. and then there is always the need for more patience.

My 7 year old just got diagnosed. We are so happy he got diagnosed so young .... Thank goodness his grade 1 teacher (who has an Aspie son) picked it up.

The first thing I did was read everything I could get my hands on. I went to the local library and got everything out I could find. I spent heaps of time searching the net.

After doing heaps of reading, I wanted to know 'how' to do all the stuff recommended.

So, I then spent a small fortune on resource books that tell you 'how' to do things. eg how to teach facial expressions, how to teach about emotions, how to write a social story etc.

I go up to the school 2/week to talk to the classroom teacher and special ed teacher. You need to know that you will have to drive everything. And it's good to be seen at the school a lot so they know they have to do a good job looking after your child.

If you want the titles of specific books I liked, just ask me.

Smelena