Aspergers Syndrome

Whether it is your child with Aspergers or other children needing to be informed explaining Aspergers Syndrome can be confusing and complex for them.

The key is explaining it on a level they will understand. Books are one of the best tools because you can find them for any age level. I have two books I have purchased to help my daughter understand Aspergers Syndrome that I would recommend.

The first is “All Cats Have Aspergers Syndrome” by Kathy Hoopermann and is perfect for even very young children. This book discusses things you see cats do with similarities in children with Aspergers. Things like “loud sounds and sudden movements scare them”, or “even small things fascinate them”. This was a very fun book to read and the pictures are perfect for young children.

The second book is for children as well, but is based on a school aged boy talking about himself with Aspergers Syndrome. It is “Can I Tell You About Aspergers Syndrome?” by Jude Welton. We bought this book for her to do a book report on. It helped her as well as her teacher understand her condition better.

Here are some ways to explain Aspergers. It is named after the man Hans Asperger who worked with children. It isn’t an illness but is called a type of autism. This means their brains can do some things really well, but some things are harder to do. Both boys and girls can have Aspergers but might act differently. They will always have Aspergers if they are diagnosed, but can learn most things they need to know to live like everyone else.

Some highlights from “Can I Tell You About Aspergers Syndrome?” that can be used in helping explain Aspergers to children could be:

1. Most people naturally know a lot about what other people are feeling and thinking. They watch faces, the way a body moves, and things people do to see that. Aspergers makes it harder to do this naturally. They don’t understand just by watching someone. They can be taught to read

   these signs.

2. They can get confused if someone says something silly but doesn’t mean it that way. People with Aspergers will think what you are saying as what you mean.

3. They may not know when others are making fun of them or teasing them because it is a part of reading body language and how they are talking.

4. They may say things that are not nice or confusing but do not know they have done it that way.

5. It may be difficult for them to take turns and play nicely because they have difficulty with groups called “social situations”. This is also something most people do naturally, but Aspergers people sometimes have to be taught this also. Explain rules of games and help them take turns.

6. Sometimes they like and even need to play quietly by themselves. This can be comforting to them and make them feel better.

7. Sensory problems are when things like taste, touch, smell, and sound bother them. Not everything or everyone has these problems, but many things can really bother them. They may get upset or frustrated if these things are bothering them.

8. They like routines which means to try to do the same things the same way as much as possible.

9. If things need to change they should be told what will happen.

10. They sometimes can’t always control their movements and may be clumsy. This could be in things like catching a ball, learning a dance, or even walking and running a little differently.

11. They may not realize that others like things and will only talk about and want to do things they want to do.

12. They may have things they like so much that when they grow up they could do that as a job. Things like outer space, dinosaurs, computers, medicine.

13. Sometimes making choices between things can be hard and make them stressed.