It is no secret that children can be cruel and a child that does not appear to fit in can be the subject of taunting and ridicule. This present a major problem for the child and his parents as the child will have trouble making and retaining friends and other social interactions, and the child with Aspergers Syndrome can be adversely affected.
First of all, please understand that just because your child has Aspergers does not mean that they are intellectually limited. Various studies in fact have indicated that children with autism and Aspergers are actually very smart, many times being intellectually superior to their peers of the same age group. Unfortunately, the social interaction part of their maturity has fallen behind the rest of their maturing process, which presents the parents with another challenge along the same lines. In other words, they are probably not intellectually challenged, but simply "socially challenged", and the best thing you can do as parents is to work with them to help them overcome that aspect.
One of the best things you can do as parents is to do role-playing activities or scenarios which would reflect a natural social environment such as another child's birthday party or pool party or similar setting. Work with the child to help them understand how to join in with the playground games, how to converse with their playmates, and what is and is not expected of them in this type of setting. Helping them to become comfortable in this type of setting can go a long ways towards helping them fit in when they participate in actual events with their peers.
Children with Aspergers and autism will face internal anxiety if they cannot accept their current surroundings. Try to teach them not to obsess about objects or any preferred items or activities. Work with them to find out what calms them so that anxiety can be subdued and controlled.
Normal everyday life at school can present its own unique set of challenges, since social interaction is a normal part of school life. Be sure to let the teachers know about the Aspergers or autism in your child so that they can make accommodations for them as they are able to. Most schools are happy to work with you and your child in this respect, but it will take effort on both parts. Work with your child at home to help them become comfortable with social interactions, perhaps starting with just one friend on a one-to-one basis and then increasing to more friends. Put them in an environment, even in your role-playing, where they will see and recognize success, instead of putting them in a situation where failure is inevitable.
Children with Aspergers or autism need to be given extra chances to make and retain friends, build social networks, and understand what is acceptable for interacting with others. If you can work with them in a role-playing environment, it will be easier for them to learn these skills. Do not force them, but rather be positive and supportive so that they will not dread any future social interactions.
For more information about Aspergers Syndrome Aspergers Disorder please visit our web site at http://www.aspergers-syndrome-explained.com
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