I am all about getting a full education, I believe school is the place for children to learn, thrive to be individuals and be encouraged to think outside of the box. Last year I heard about a social skills course that was going to be offered for some children who may benefit from such a class, of course my Aj was considered as one to take this course. It’s a great idea based on social thinking and it’s basically a means to teach children, sometimes specifically autistic children, how to be social in our every growin social society. I was in love with this idea, after all Aj’s counselor had mentioned this is really our next area to address. Hearing the school offered such a course, one day a week at lunch time, I was all for Aj taking part in this!
So Aj had his first class with the teacher for Social Skills and I had a little chat after homework was done about the session. Aj seemed to be happy about attending and I took this moment to discuss what social skills are. Aj wasn’t’ quite sure what it was all about and what social skills means per say, since he was in a talkative mood and ready to listen, I explained…
I told Aj that when we are out in public and a person waits on us at a store or restaurant or a person holds the door for us when we walk into a store, we are suppose to say thank you, right? He says, no. I had to giggle at this point because all of my examples I cited as a means to show how we should be polite in society, were making him give me silly looks! Aj flat out was like no way are we suppose to thank these people nor speak to them. That got me wondering, what in the world is going through his mind, he knows manners, so why does he not “get” this concept. So I did what I always do, I asked what was his view on this subject, and that is when he said …
Those people are strangers and we do not speak to strangers.
Ah, I got it! For those not familiar with how autistic kids/adults tend to work inside their brains, they are very literal. Aj has always been taught not to speak to strangers, from a young age, as are most of our children, right?! Well to him, it’s that literal, there are no exceptions and no grey areas. Aj was told and taught to not speak to strangers so using manners in a social setting to a stranger, is going against all he has been taught. I had this “ah ha” moment, because it made perfect sense to me, however, he still does need to learn the difference between being an active, polite part of society such as saying “thank you” to a stranger that serves us or holds a door open and the rules of not speaking to a stranger when it’s a “stranger danger” scenario.
This social skills class will hopefully assist in allowing Aj to take a more open mind approach to my parenting guidance on this topic when I work with Aj. I am hoping it will open his mind up a bit more to the idea of how our society works. I am sure Aj will still have his own way about him, but maybe just maybe, we can at least get him being more social on a peer to peer level and for an occasional thank you to a person who waits on us. It’s all a work in progress, this parenting gig, but I am so happy to know the school is taking the full boat of education seriously with this social skills class. No more having children fall behind socially, I just hope it’s taught in a “real world” way, because I do not raise any of my children to think life is fair and everyone will like them. Sometimes, the school systems are like that and it’s not reality. So as long as Aj is benefiting from this and it’s a boost to go hand-in-hand with the parental work I do at home, it’s a win-win!
I really hope that class helps your son. You’re such a good mom, Brandy. You’re doing so much to help him and I am sure he’s benefiting from all you do.
What a GREAT quote by Paul. That is so true. My brother wasn’t on the Autism spectrum, but he did have several learning disabilities that were hard to overcome.
Sounds like a excellent class for your son – I think it is a class all kids should be required to attend.
Sounds great for you son. Social skills are so important for all kids.
It really great that his school is offering this class. I think this would be a good class for all the kids.
I really like the quotes. I hope this turns out to be wonderful for him. I’m glad he was considered to take it and look forward to hearing more.
It sounds like the class is a good fit and its great that you have people in your corner who understand. I know so many autism moms who struggle because they live in an area where their just isn’t good help or understanding available.
Hahahhaha…. These people are strangers and we do not speak to strangers. Well, you taught him right.
Fingers crossed the social skills class goes well. It sounds like a great fit for him.
Oh gosh, the talking to strangers thing rings really true with me. My son has social anxiety and some learning disorders and takes things very literally too. He would not speak to ANY stranger for the longest- even to say please or thank you! It’s still hard to get him to order food at a restaurant.
Great post. Autism is a really difficult disability to live with. It keeps kids disconnected from the world around them – to varying degrees. I look forward to an update on the social skills class!
Sounds like a great class. It is always about parents supporting the school and the school supporting the parent. You have to have both for kids to get the best possible opportunities in an educational setting.
Good luck and hoping the class helps him to have a good understanding. I think it will be good for him to get the ‘non mom’ lessons 😉
It sounds like every school should offer a class like this. I really hope it helps your son!
This looks like it could be a really good program. I hope it is able to help!
I hope this helps your son. I’m glad there are programs available like this.
It is great that your school is offering specialized classes for autists. Too many are still hammering the square peg and wondering why no one is conforming. Keep up the good work!
Sounds like a great program to help your son. I hope he has success with it.
That is so great that the school offers the program. So happy that your son gets to be a part of it.
I hope that this program can help your son in his endeavors.
It’s so interesting that he wouldn’t deviate from what he’d learned about strangers. I didn’t realize that about being literal.
I love that quote. I hope this class ends up being awesome for him and you!
My oldest is in a social skills group, he’s been in it for about 3 years now. Its definitely helped him make great improvements.
Good luck to you with this class and group! I hope it is exactly what he needs.
What a great program! Hopefully it’s extremely helpful! Something like this I wish was offered all over!
That is a fantastic program! I think there should be more education out there for adults about autism and what it is and how to handle it. So often people don’t understand it so they just don’t even bother to try.
Sounds like a great program. Nice to find something that makes our children happy!
I adore the quote about the pegs. Flexibility is key.
Now that’s true, why interact with strangers, right? I really hope he enjoys the rest of his class. More places need to offer courses like these.