Social Understanding

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My 9 year old has just attended a 4 week Social Understanding that he absolutely loved.

There were 10 boys with Asperger's aged between 8 and 10.

It was for 4 hours every Saturday.

The focus was on learning to calm themselves during times of social confusion so they can try to logic out what is happening. They also learned about facial expressions / body language / non-literal language to help try to understand social situations.

The first week my son didn't want to go. There were many tears / meltdowns, but I told him he had to at least go to the first session, and then if he hated it he didn't have to finish.

The stories the other Mum's and I shared about getting our sons to go were amusing. One boy had thrown his lunch box out the window on the highway, thinking this would mean he didn't have to go.

When I arrived my son was clinging to me. One boy was lying on the floor in one corner of the room. Another was sitting in another corner of the room with his arm crossed looking very grumpy.

At the end of the first session my son had the biggest smile on his face and said he'd had a fabulous time. Most of the boys were greeting their Mum's with, 'Wow that was fun!'.

Out of the 10 that started, 8 completed the programme and had a great time.

I've booked my second son (who's 7 years old) for a similar program, but for his age group.

During the 4 hours the Mum's had long lunches and chats together. It was great to share experiences.

We all had the same experience ..... rejection by other Mums at the schools. Initially we'd make friends with other Mums ... cups of coffees at each others houses. But then the other Mums would pretend we were invisible and ignore us when they witnesses our sons' behaviour at school.

Obviously, one way of screening who is worth getting to know.

Helen

That sounds great! Can you please PM or email me some information about it?

That "screening process" of the other mothers sounds so familiar. After a while, I just gave up trying to make friends. We are lucky in that we are in a good church group who has known and loved my son for years, so they can see how far he's come and love both he and I in spite of my son's earlier odd behavior.

But I still feel that rejection from other mothers, in fact, it's one of the reasons why I love the fact that my son is now in middle school and out of elementary school -- I don't have to deal with the parental socializing that has been a part of elementary school. I don't miss that one bit.

Glad to hear that your son liked the social understanding class! That's great! Hope your seven year old loves it as well!

Kris

It was called Space Travelers and was run by Dr Margi Carter and Josie Santomauro.

Margi has an education background (with a pHD). Josie is an author who has an 18 year old son with Asperger's - Damien Santomauro.

In fact, Josie and her son Damien co-wrote a book for male Aspie teens.

The book 'Space Travelers Student Manual' is available at Autism Asperger Publishing Co.
http://www.asperger.net

I am starting my own website [url]http://www.smelena.com[url] which will have all my sons' therapy notes - practical help for people who don't have access to great therapists.

My website is still under construction - give it a few months for it to really be going.

Hope this helps.

Helen

That course sounds great Smelena,

I wonder if there are any in Melbourne. I'd be very interested in knowing what your 7 year old does in the course (my son is 7 too).

I love the idea of your website, great thinking!

Temma