School age

Emotional & social skills

The spectrum website, from Australia, has a well presented article about social interaction strategies.     The National autistic society’s page about supporting your autistic child in making friends covers the subject well, with pointers for learning about emotions.

Developing emotional and social skills can be more difficult for autistic children.     Click icon for our page on the subject.

Explaining to a child

You may want to explain autism or related issues:

• Children with special needs: How to explain disability to a child – Huffington Post.     See  article
• Question:   We recently got a diagnosis.    How should I explain high functioning autism to my affected son and his ‘typical’ siblings?     See:   Answer.     Also, this book is highly recommended by parents.     See  Amazon
• 15 children’s books.      See Amazon

More generally, the National Autistic Society offers tips for communicating with an autistic child.  

See also our Preparing for change page about leaving primary and secondary school.

Social success

Prep for social success is a book aimed at parents of children on the autistic spectrum.      Amazon offers an eBook version.     

The Amazon page says that it offers a four step programme:  PLAN, REHEARSE, ENCOURAGE, PRAISE.    The PREP program can be applied to a number of settings including school and group activities such as sports or clubs.     There are good reviews on Amazon.      Click icon to see the authors’ Facebook site.

 Thula the therapy cat

Iris was a 6 year old on the autism spectrum.     Her mother was surprised to see the way her daughter bonded with a cat that the family was looking after.     She bought a cat of a recommend bread.      Click play button for a brief video of the story.      

See also: illustrated article     more pictures.

Here is another case of a father who took is son cat shopping at an animal shelter.

  Bullying

Why might autistic pupils be at risk of being bullied?      What can parents do about it?       Click icon for a National Autistic Society guide.

• A book by Luke Jackson with the title Freaks, Geeks and Asperger Syndrome has a well written chapter on bullying.      See our Library books page for more about this book.
• Childline is a free, private and confidential service where you can be yourself.      Get in touch about anything:  online, on the phone at any time.       See:  website       bullying

  Mothers’ Experiences

Click icon to read about parents whose school-age children have either autism or Aspergers.

 Early Support

Lincolnshire County Council provide an Early Support, Care and Co-ordination service, or ESCO for short.     The eligibility criteria have been extended from children with complex health needs or disabilities under five to include young people up to 18 years old.      Click icon for more information.

Toileting

Click icon to find out about autism and toileting.

See also 

Families -> Growing up -> School age