12-Year-Old Boy With Aspergers in Home Child Care

United States
November 30, 2008 10:14pm CST
I consider myself someone who understands a lot about autism because I've worked for manyyears with kids with autism spectrum isorders, either as an aide or as a respite worker. But right now I need ideas on how to deal with a boy who is giving me challenges! "Bobby" is 12-years old and has Aspergers Syndrome. He and his sister come to my house afterschool, several days a week, to be babysat. Bobby is very intelligent and is a joy to talk to 1:1. But he can be very mean sometimes. For instance, he has punched my 5-year-old niece, snapped my nephew's Game Cube memory card in half, called the other kids morons, and been very rough with our dogs. I know a lot of this is impulse control problems... Bobby thinks first, and acts later. Also, he goes to a special school for kids with autism, and just about all of th other kids there are nonverbal, many not even toilet trained, etc. So he really doesn't get a lot of chances to practice social skills in being around other kids! I've tried talking 1 to 1 with Bobby about the rules of the house. I've written the rules out for him. I've followed through with his mother's time-out scheme that she uses at home. Intellectually Bobby understands how to sct. But he still has many problems. If it was just him, I could work much more closely with him to practice social skills. But i have 6 kids in the house after school, between the ages of 17 months and 12 years old... and my nephew and oldest niece also have behavioral problems... so I feel like I'm always putting out fires! I'm often tempted to let Bobby play video games or watch cartoons by himself for the entire time he's at my house, to keep him occupied and out of trouble...even though I know it would be better for him to interact with the other kids and feel like part of the group! Any tips on how to manage behavior, teach kids to get along, and keep everyone happy? Please help!
1 response
@lisa0502 (1724)
• Canada
1 Dec 08
I am not sure whether or not this will help but here it goes. I have a son with asperger's, I have found that it is hard for him to deal with some of the other kids. Some of the solutions that were used is 1. When he feels out of control for him to take the time out, not you sending him but ask him when he feels like he is getting out of control for him to take the time. 2. To find one of the kids that he can sort of conect to and let them have one on one time. Like I said I am not sure if this will help in your situation but it has in mine. Good luck with this.