| > | | | | always deal with situations effectively. It is just that the |
| This is an article for parents to help them understand | | | | child with Aspergers may act this out in less socially |
| the social challenges for your child with Aspergers | | | | acceptable ways. |
| Your child desires more than anything to be "normal." I | | | | The behavior they display also provides them with an |
| know that "normal" is a relative term and that it means | | | | escape from that which they fear. Your child is not |
| different things to all of us. But deep down your child | | | | attempting to gain attention, which is a common theory |
| with Aspergers wants to fit in and be part of what | | | | about inappropriate behavior; instead they are |
| everyone else is doing. It is human nature we all want | | | | attempting to escape attention. Their brain simply |
| to be and feel a part of something. They may not | | | | doesn't allow them to understand how the world |
| understand exactly what it means, but they do | | | | works or how they are supposed to fit into the world, |
| understand that they are left out of school or family | | | | given their perceptions and their abilities. These skills |
| activities. | | | | that we tend to automatically take for granted are just |
| However the challenge for you and your child is that | | | | lacking. This includes a difficulty with the basic |
| they are unable to gauge their activities or behaviors in | | | | understanding of the rules of society, especially if they |
| comparison to others. They are simply doing what their | | | | are not obvious. Children with Aspergers will not |
| body and mind requires them to do. This is one of the | | | | comprehend body language. He or she is not able to |
| key problem areas for the Aspergers child. Most | | | | sit in a room, observe what is happening, and |
| children growing up tend to instinctively take in what is | | | | understand social cues, implied directions, or how to |
| going on around them and how people are behaving. | | | | read between the lines, and this will not change over |
| They then tend to "model" (or copy) this behavior and | | | | time. |
| so begin to learn how to act in certain situations. For | | | | The unspoken rules of society guide most of our |
| the child with Aspergers this does not come naturally. | | | | actions and interactions, and will not be understood by |
| There will be times when they do not know how to | | | | your child naturally. Providing him or her with practice or |
| respond to certain people and/or situations. This will | | | | resources on how to deal with these situations will be |
| inevitably lead to anxiety, which may lead to further | | | | of huge benefit. There are many books, software |
| inappropriate behavior. This can lead to a very | | | | programs and good educational resources in this area. |
| negative cycle of more and more inappropriate | | | | If you are not already using them I would urge you to |
| behaviour as the anxiety increases. | | | | do so. You can find a wealth of information about |
| If your child could stop this behavior, they would, | | | | these resources on the internet, through your local |
| because they want to. More than likely, they will | | | | education board or through the many Aspergers and |
| instead become obsessed with whatever behavior or | | | | Autism support groups out there. |
| issue they are "stuck" on. This is because it is their only | | | | So to summarise this article children with Aspergers |
| defense. That defense provides them with a manner | | | | just do not have the natural ability to understand how |
| in which to respond to a situation they are unable to | | | | human beings interact with one another (especially with |
| deal with. It's basically just a coping mechanism and we | | | | the subtleties of body language, expressions, double |
| all have this in stressful situations. Some of us get | | | | meaning of words etc.). But it is possible with the right |
| angry and will argue loudly, others will ignore the | | | | resources to begin to teach your child how to cope |
| problem and others of us may just walk out. So just | | | | with these challenges and become better in social |
| like children with Aspergers we often also don't | | | | situations. |