Observing an 18-month-old boy react to an autistic 4-year-old girl.
By The Horse
@TheHorse (238356)
Walnut Creek, California
January 6, 2021 4:01pm CST
A couple of months ago, I mentioned a 4-year-old autistic girl I was working with at my friend's preschool. That girl disappeared about a month-and-a-half ago, and returned today. In the interim, I have become buddies with a new kid--an 18-month-old boy who is very verbal.
It was interesting watching him react to her as they shared a small plastic slide in the classroom today. He nonverbally invited her to slide with him, and when she displayed "flat affect" (no expression) in response to his social gesture, he was visibly surprised. After that moment he tracked her with his eyes for several seconds, looking perplexed, and even a tiny bit afraid.
In that moment I (an experimental psychologist by training) started generating hypotheses about the self-fulfilling prophecy aspect of the social isolation of autistic kids. Have you worked with or had experience with autistic individuals?
18 people like this
17 responses
@andriaperry (118793)
• Anniston, Alabama
7 Jan 21
@TheHorse yes, she lives in one of the rentals. I talk to her Everytime I go there. No eye contact from her
1 person likes this
@rakski (156709)
• Philippines
7 Jan 21
I encountered some classmates of my son. His bestfriend Donnie do not talk to anyone but my son. My son was able to encourage him to dance since they become buddies. He does not reply much to his teacher. My son has a mild autism, high functioning but his defiance is way too high.
3 people like this
@TheHorse (238356)
• Walnut Creek, California
8 Jan 21
@JudyEv I can't remember for sure, but I think the ground entrance was behind me, and then the cow would have to make a right turn (to the left in the photo), behind that wall, to be loaded up. I was there again a couple of weeks ago with a different friend but didn't check. Next time I will.
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (84867)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
6 Jan 21
I knew a few. And, unless they mentioned something to me, I would never had known. They were on the higher end of the spectrum so unless you were around them enough or they told you, it would be hard to notice.
2 people like this
@kaylachan (84867)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
7 Jan 21
@TheHorse I am not surprised one bit. Young children are difficult to diagnose, because they are all over the place in general. Sounds like she's looking for an excuse to cover up bad parenting.
1 person likes this
@Tina30219 (82978)
• Onaway, Michigan
7 Jan 21
Yes I have experience with Autistic kids my son is Autistic he can talkmthough he is 28 years old and Inhave been around his classmates when he was in school.
2 people like this
@Tina30219 (82978)
• Onaway, Michigan
7 Jan 21
@TheHorse Yeah once the teacher told me what they liked and did not like I was. Maybe ask others that know the child what she likes and don’t.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (238356)
• Walnut Creek, California
7 Jan 21
@Tina30219 I will just be a "neutral stimulus" and interact with her as she wants to interact.
@TheHorse (238356)
• Walnut Creek, California
7 Jan 21
Well, they can have some pretty serious tantrums and throw things around. I worked with one teenage autistic who loved violent video games more than anything else. And his mom told me he sometimes hit her. He was sullen on our outings but not violent with me.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (54730)
• United States
7 Jan 21
I have a loved one who has Asperger’s. Are you familiar with this ?
3 people like this
@LindaOHio (222726)
• United States
7 Jan 21
No, I've never met an autistic person.
2 people like this
@prinzcy (32299)
• Malaysia
7 Jan 21
There are autistic children in my brother's school. But I never interact with them directly. I found these children, not just autism but others as well, have the purest soul. They care for their friends a lot.
During fasting month, we didn't provide Lil Bro with food. Lil Bro was excited to start fasting as well. But when he got back from school that day, he's no longer fasting. Turn out his friends can't understand why he's not eating. They gave their food to him.
1 person likes this
@vandana7 (102698)
• India
7 Jan 21
Not that I know what autism is exactly to speak of experience. I do understand how 18 months kids would be though. Exactly friendly and thinking the whole world loves them and wants to play with them.
The closest I came across was a girl child who was the younger sister of a girl who worked with a hawker out here. She came to my place for studying some. Then was married off.
1 person likes this
@vandana7 (102698)
• India
8 Jan 21
@TheHorse Eye to eye contact was an issue. I gave her mother something to eat, she was not keen and went straight for sleeping on her lap. The older one who was my student was embarrassed as the dress went up and scolded her. I then understood how much patience is needed to look after children like that. Not sure she would be classified autistic. But then, I am not a psychologist.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (122305)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
8 Jan 21
My nephew who is 18 years of age is autistic..
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (238356)
• Walnut Creek, California
9 Jan 21
@Deepizzaguy Can he describe his "strategies"?
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (122305)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
8 Jan 21
@TheHorse My nephew can only speak a few words but he is very smart when it comes to playing card games on a computer.
1 person likes this
