Books to Share with your ASD Child
Children with ASD struggle when trying to learn social skills, and the lack of social skills may have a bigger impact on their life than any other aspect. Peers can bully them for their differences and it is important that these children learn these skills as early as possible to minimize the effects of bullying and rejection from peers. Knowing these skills will help them be stronger people and make them less vulnerable to the actions of others.
Children learn from stories that share the same experiences that they may be having. Reading to your ASD child also provides the opportunity to provide the repetition that they need to absorb learning of new skills. It also provides the opportunity to role play skills that they don’t seem to comprehend simply from the story. Further, the reading of these stories lets ASD children that they are not alone in the challenges that they face.
Diane Murrell, the author of two stories is the parent of children with ASD and has a first-hand understanding of the challenges they face. Tobin Learns to Make Friends teaches some of the skills necessary to make friends.
Children with ASD want to make and keep friends but often lack the skills to do so. Murrel highlights some of the skills necessary using incidents of shouting, crowding, sharing, borrowing, interrupting, taking turns, being kind, having good manners, and following rules.
Also by the same author Oliver Onion - The Onion Who Learns to Accept and Be Himself builds on the friendship building skills that were learned in “Tobin Learns to Make Friends,” This book is aimed at children aged 4-10 and helps children with ASD accept who they are.
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Is it possible to see more information or help available for young adults? My son is 22 and was just diagnosed last year. He was being treated for ADHD and depression. He really thinks that everyone else has the problems and that he is just “fine.” Help!
Comment by Gail Cole — February 26, 2008 @ 4:53 pm
These sound great; however, I have a nearly 13 year old who functions incredibly well (regular classes, straight A’s) in public school and has many friendly acquaintances (Few if any “friends.” Problem is, at his age, classmates have become acutely aware of his periodic social faux pas and less-than-adequate ability to deal with Middle School “HiJinx” and pranks. He becomes more isolated each day. He participates in a group setting, but a book addressing all of the topics addressed in the suggested books, but on his age level would be helpful. Any suggestions? Thanks
Comment by Melissa in New York — February 26, 2008 @ 5:39 pm
we have just bought an apple mac book (apple lap top computer) which our 14 year old son with Aspergers and dyslexia LOVES. Its most amazing feature however which is absolutely liberating for us all is the fact that if you highlight script it will actually read it out to you/him/us!! this is incredibly liberating for him and saves us loads of time as he was always wanting us to read things out for him!!! Its obviously also good for us to keep reading aloud to him but this computer gives him a new independence and he has found out some really interesting things. Jo
Comment by jo curd — February 27, 2008 @ 5:03 am
I have a 13 yr old also who is aware that kids his age don’t like him. I broke my heart at to see him sit on the couch and cry about how lonely he is. At the same time he refuses to do any activities I suggest where I think he can meet more kids. He tells me it is diffulcult for him to be around to many new kids in an enclosed space such as the library. I’m really gald he shared this info; I did not know about the inside/outside comfort level.So now I am looking at outside places he can meet kids his own age like a skate park, swimming pool etc.
I am also taking this on as 5 yr program for him, where I will set goals for him to reach in learning the social skills he will need as a young adult. I know every AS child is unique, this is what has been working for me and him lately. I bought a day planner that we use to keep him on track for knowing what time it is (not a clue usually),the task his has for the day,what he needs to eat for dinner if I’m not home yet, etc. The next day we review it. He will get red stars for goal met or ? mark for (I think his lying- big problem we’re working on)or
- mark goal not meet.He has really turned on to this and has now asked to be graded each day. I also let him know he will be able to turn in his red stars in for trip to Game store, movie etc.
I am personally struggling with his depression. Having been treated myself with meds for big time D, I know what it’s about. Yet at the same time very scared about using meds on a growing brain.For now I will work with him to find ways to help him learn to recognize his own depression and how to deal with it.
I would like to find other parents of AS teenagers in my area get together with. I think it would be great for my son to be able to spend time with other AS teenagers.
Comment by Gail in Tacoma — February 27, 2008 @ 12:15 pm
I would just like to comment on Oliver Onion and teaching your child to accept who they are,
but does the child actually know at this stage of his/her life that their a little bit different,I have a 7 year old son who was recently diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome and ADHD and I believe he has no idea that he is that bit different
Comment by Diana Doupe — February 27, 2008 @ 3:10 pm
My son is eleven and has aspergers. Lately my son has become very angry and depressed. I know that this is because he is lonely and frustrated and feels like he dosen’t fit anywhere. I am doing all I can to help him in every possible way I know how, but it just never seems to make much difference. My heart breaks to see him unhappy. He is an amazing young man with so much potential and so much to give! I am sure there are alot of you out there that feel the same way. We need more people out there to be aware of the challenges aspies face every single day and not to judge them by their differences. After all, we are all different aren’t we?
Comment by Ilonka Torok — February 27, 2008 @ 9:04 pm
Why would you use a train to help children w/Asperager, they need to see real children in verious social situations. This is just a story like any other story to them. These childre are very visiual learners. Help them to identify and act appropriately with others by using pictures of children.
Comment by Donna Grazioli — February 28, 2008 @ 5:10 pm