Who says Autistic kids aren't social?! I started posting this on one of my "normal" parenting boards and realized they probably wouldn't "get" it, lol.
It used to be that Andrew wouldn't initiate conversations period or only talk about his interested topics. Over the past year he's been using a lot of scripting to engage people. (meaning he's using the same practiced lines to start conversations) This has been huge for him, and fun for us (and his teachers) to watch. I should add that he has been in social therapy groups since he was 3 years old and is now turning 9 years. Although he doesn't know that's what they are, lol. His first one was a playgroup led by his OT and the last few years has been an official group in school and during the summer that he loves.
Anyways... so lately his social experiments have been hysterical. This kid totally cracks me up. First it was see who he could get to call him his "alternate name" Dr. Fred Pickles... he got all the teachers to play along as well as the principal. They call him old man pickles on Wed and Fred on Fridays... he has very strict rules about the usage too. Thank goodness his teachers are awesome! Their theory is that if it prevents a fight they play along.
Then he was really practicing his scripting.. he'd walk up to one teacher and say something then immediately turn to another and repeat it again and see what reactions different adults would give him.
This evening topped it for me though. While out to dinner tonight he got up and started following DH to the bathroom, I paid little attention. Pretty quick he popped back around the corner from the other way. I asked him what he did and he responded:
"Well I had to go talk to that server, the one with the black hair." Hmm, ok. "What'd you have to talk to him about?"
"I asked him how long he has been working here. Turns out he just started"
"Oh, why'd you need to know that?"
"I was curious, its ok to be curious right mom?"
I did apologize to the young server about my child's nosiness and the kid was just laughing and said he didn't mind. Thankfully we live in a pretty "friendly" laid back area, especially when Andy went through his "I need to hug everyone phase" lol.
It used to be that Andrew wouldn't initiate conversations period or only talk about his interested topics. Over the past year he's been using a lot of scripting to engage people. (meaning he's using the same practiced lines to start conversations) This has been huge for him, and fun for us (and his teachers) to watch. I should add that he has been in social therapy groups since he was 3 years old and is now turning 9 years. Although he doesn't know that's what they are, lol. His first one was a playgroup led by his OT and the last few years has been an official group in school and during the summer that he loves.
Anyways... so lately his social experiments have been hysterical. This kid totally cracks me up. First it was see who he could get to call him his "alternate name" Dr. Fred Pickles... he got all the teachers to play along as well as the principal. They call him old man pickles on Wed and Fred on Fridays... he has very strict rules about the usage too. Thank goodness his teachers are awesome! Their theory is that if it prevents a fight they play along.
Then he was really practicing his scripting.. he'd walk up to one teacher and say something then immediately turn to another and repeat it again and see what reactions different adults would give him.
This evening topped it for me though. While out to dinner tonight he got up and started following DH to the bathroom, I paid little attention. Pretty quick he popped back around the corner from the other way. I asked him what he did and he responded:
"Well I had to go talk to that server, the one with the black hair." Hmm, ok. "What'd you have to talk to him about?"
"I asked him how long he has been working here. Turns out he just started"
"Oh, why'd you need to know that?"
"I was curious, its ok to be curious right mom?"
I did apologize to the young server about my child's nosiness and the kid was just laughing and said he didn't mind. Thankfully we live in a pretty "friendly" laid back area, especially when Andy went through his "I need to hug everyone phase" lol.
It's so fun when you can see how their mind is working! It sounds like he's making lots of progress in addition to being cute!
And FWIW I think asking the server the question he did was actually pretty appropriate to the setting. I mean he didn't ask him what color undies he was wearing or anything. It is relevant, so good job!
That's great!
