Gourmet
07-03-05, 02:27 PM
Hi. I know very little about asperger's syndrome. But I have recently had an experience that I would like to share.
I had a student..an 8 yr old boy. He was in a very busy and active summer art program with me. Very independent thinking, hands on class. These classes are three hours a day, five days in the week. I had 12 students, and more than one little boy in the class with behavior issues.
This one little aspergers boy was unique compared to the other adhd children. I couldn't put my finger on it, but I could tell I wasn't going to be able to give him the attention he needed and teach the class.....and keep the general behavior of the class in check.
My 16 year old ADD son, who has avoided most summer activities, was fortunately available to help me.
My son is mild in manner, quiet, very intelligent, has a great smile, makes friends easily. He is a gentle spirit with a great sense of humor...he laughs at jokes but is not a jokester. A compassionate young man and very talented musically. ( brag, brag, brag)
I introduced my son to this little boy and something connected. I witnessed pure magic. The little boy became completely focused on his project and was able to tune out the hectic activity in the class. If he strayed from what he was doing, my son did not even have to get up from his chair. He would call to the boy in a gentle voice and the child would immediately get back on task....eager to interact with my son.
Since then...I have become very interested in a word that I had not known existed until a few months ago...aspergers.
Okay,what I am wondering....is there a "big brother" or "buddy" program for children with aspergers and adhd? One where a mentor accompanies a child to an activity or spends some time with the child such as an outing or a lunch date ?
What my son did with this student helped the child truly enjoy the class. He made a friend. He literally became the most well behaved child in the class. When I complimented him to his mother, she told me she had never been told that about her child...and I wish you could have seen her face.
We want to know if such a program exists.
We feel like it would be so valuable and my son, who has ambitions to go into some kind of, counseling or psychology is entertaining the idea of starting something of this nature.
thanks a bunch,
~gourmet~
I had a student..an 8 yr old boy. He was in a very busy and active summer art program with me. Very independent thinking, hands on class. These classes are three hours a day, five days in the week. I had 12 students, and more than one little boy in the class with behavior issues.
This one little aspergers boy was unique compared to the other adhd children. I couldn't put my finger on it, but I could tell I wasn't going to be able to give him the attention he needed and teach the class.....and keep the general behavior of the class in check.
My 16 year old ADD son, who has avoided most summer activities, was fortunately available to help me.
My son is mild in manner, quiet, very intelligent, has a great smile, makes friends easily. He is a gentle spirit with a great sense of humor...he laughs at jokes but is not a jokester. A compassionate young man and very talented musically. ( brag, brag, brag)
I introduced my son to this little boy and something connected. I witnessed pure magic. The little boy became completely focused on his project and was able to tune out the hectic activity in the class. If he strayed from what he was doing, my son did not even have to get up from his chair. He would call to the boy in a gentle voice and the child would immediately get back on task....eager to interact with my son.
Since then...I have become very interested in a word that I had not known existed until a few months ago...aspergers.
Okay,what I am wondering....is there a "big brother" or "buddy" program for children with aspergers and adhd? One where a mentor accompanies a child to an activity or spends some time with the child such as an outing or a lunch date ?
What my son did with this student helped the child truly enjoy the class. He made a friend. He literally became the most well behaved child in the class. When I complimented him to his mother, she told me she had never been told that about her child...and I wish you could have seen her face.
We want to know if such a program exists.
We feel like it would be so valuable and my son, who has ambitions to go into some kind of, counseling or psychology is entertaining the idea of starting something of this nature.
thanks a bunch,
~gourmet~