Hiya everyone
I wonder if anyone can offer me some advice.
A new family as moved into our square, 5 boys and the oldest who is 21...a man actually is severly autistic.
I just knew it would be a matter of time before one of the children said something to him and it just had to be my 6 year old son Kieran didn't it.
Kieran called him a name and my other son come in to tell me, I went out to see what was going on and the lad with autism said, he was autistic and didnt like people making fun of him. I apologised profusivly and dragged Kieran in. I tried to explain what Autism is but did a poor job of it, but told Kieran that this lad could be come nasty if he got teased too much. (Afterwards I was annoyed with myself cos I didn't want to scare Kieran or say things about the lad that might not be true.)
Anyhow I took Kieran back outside and he apologised and the lad accepted it, I explained that Kieran was only 6 years old and didn't know what Autism was but he will not repeat his behavior.
To be honest, I think I handled the whole situation crap and wish I explained things so Kieran could understand it better. Can someone tell me the best way to explain autism to a child, so he doesnt tease or taunt others.
Love Angel x
RE: Explaining Autism To A 6 Year Old
Hi Angel
I have an autistic daughter and another daughter who is only 14mths older. She was only 5 when we had to explain Autism.
We git loads of information which can bebome mind blowing. The best advice I can give is...........
Explain how a person in a wheel chair is disabled but you can see that he is disabled bacause you can see his chair. Autism is a disability but you can not see it.
start simple by making/drawing faces and getting you son to say what the faces mean to him ( smile=happy) ect, tell him that the Autisticman may not be able to understand what those faces mean
Explain how your son/other children are really happy when they are playing with friends/family where as the Autistic man may feel happy being alone.
You (mummy) are pleased and loves it when he (your son) is polite and uses his manners and how he says hello to be polite when mrs x from next door says hello. The autistic man may not understand so he is not being naughty or rude if he does not use his manners.
My daughter is a lot younger but can become agressive at times if people keep trying to talk to her and she does not feel like talking back to them. It may be an idea to tell your son that it is ok to say hello and that you can not catch Autism. Also explain that some Autistic people like to repeat things over and over again something which they find a normal thing.
I hope this is of help I wouldn't think you would need to go into much more detail as autism effects people in other ways depending where on the spectrum they are
regards sharon
Cant say much more
RE: Explaining Autism To A 6 Year Old
Dearest Angel,
Please don't beat yourself up, just be in your angel heart and teach your son unconditional love and to be compassionate to everyone, no matter who they are. To love himself beyond measure so that he may love others in acceptance of who they are. The golden rule do to others what you would like them to do to you.
Simple really just give it love.
Divine Love
RE: Explaining Autism To A 6 Year Old
I told my kids this;
Your brains has lots of roads which the messages for your brain travel, but sometimes withAutistic people these roads get blocked and the messages dont get through or if they do get through it isnt the whole message, so they dont understand like you or I, they arent being mean they are just special, and it can be hard for them so be nice.
RE: Explaining Autism To A 6 Year Old
And don't forget to mention that whilst (to a child) an autistic person may not appear to be clever, they are usually very very clever at one or two things such as drawing or maths. You could perhaps tell of the autistic boy (you may remember he was on the news several years back now) who could look at something just once, go home and draw a very detailed picture of what he had seen (if I remember correctly, on the news, it was the houses of parliament that he drew).
Love and Reiki Hugs
RE: Explaining Autism To A 6 Year Old
I know this is an old thread but these books from NAS are helpful for anyone else looking for an answer for newly diagnosed children or siblings.
[link= http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=425 ] http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=425 [/link]
This one is wonderful as it is so simply explained.
I have autism...what's that?
[link= http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=425&a=4971 ] http://www.nas.org.uk/nas/jsp/polopoly.jsp?d=425&a=4971 [/link]
As a parent of a child with autism I seriously feared teasing and bullying, but thankfully its quite the contrary, she is extremely popular to the point it mostly gets on her nerves - but I would rather that for her than to be rejected for not slotting neatly into box marked normal.
RE: Explaining Autism To A 6 Year Old
ORIGINAL: Louisa
...rather that for her than to be rejected for not slotting neatly into box marked 'normal'.
Couldn't agree with you more there Louisa. It's a shame peopledon't seem to alter their perception of what 'normal' is and only seem to base it on themselves.
Looking at the intelligence side of things, which is normal? A person who is average at most things or a person who is not very good at some things, but exceptionally above average at others? IMHO, bothare normal.
Love and Reiki Hugs