April is Autism Awareness Month, and while my own children do not fall on the spectrum, Emily is friends with some who are. Recently, I had the privilege of interviewing Ivy from Into the Wind about her experiences with her son, E, who has autism. Ivy shares some fabulous ideas for hosting a play date with a child who has autism, and how it can go a little more smoothly. She also shares excellent activity ideas, and other tips for approaching this disorder. Welcome, Ivy!
Wow! I have to say I'm honored and amazed that you'd want to interview me. I'll say at the start that it's good to remember that Autism is a spectrum disorder and that kids fall on it in a vast array. E is high functioning and like all the kids on the spectrum has his own quirks, and like all kids his own likes and dislikes. [Editor’s Note: You can read more about E’s diagnosis
here].
Generally E does ok on play dates. But like many kids on the spectrum his memory is phenomenal so that he remembers where everything was before and if a toy needed it's batteries changed the last time he was at a house he will ask the parents every subsequent time if they have changed those batteries yet. My biggest suggestion to parents hosting a kid on the spectrum is patience and understanding. E will try out every switch, button and door in your house if he can. He isn't being nosy per se, he's fixating. I suggest if he's fixating on a remote to your stereo -- show him how it works, let him try it once if you don't mind and then try to redirect him.
Also let your children know that if the kid on the spectrum stops playing with them to play by himself for a little while, it doesn't mean that the kid doesn't like them or doesn't want to play with them. It probably means they are feeling a bit over loaded and need to regroup. As you know large groups of kids are loud and move quickly and touch each other a lot, this can be very overwhelming. Some kids on the spectrum will throw a tantrum, others get very very quiet, others will go to their rooms to read or play alone -- like E. It's a coping mechanism to deal with the stress of all the sensory stimulation.
If we can work it, I really prefer outside play dates or meeting friends at the park. There are fewer things there for E to fixate on, and generally he loves playing on playground equipment. Swinging is a huge thing for him, and for many kids on the spectrum. There is something about the movement that helps with equilibrium and proprioception.
What are some activities you have done with E that he responded to particularly well, and what sorts of activities do you tend to avoid?
Some kids love to play with play dough and finger paint -- E not so much. He doesn't like the way it feels on his hands. Most problems we'll run into involve sensory issues. If we know something is going to be complete chaos, and it is inside a building (thereby making the nose louder) we will avoid it if we can. However a trip to a Children's or Science Museum is always a big hit! Concerts in the park with a playground near by where we can also have a picnic is super fun for everyone. Also, swimming is huge!! E loves to swim and supposedly so do most kids on the spectrum (of course I don't feel I can really speak for all of them, but a lot of doctors recommend it for them as well). It's a gentle way to get full body sensory stimulation, and out in the water he's just like every other kid.
If you are planning to go to the movies, be prepared for constant chatter. It drives me crazy, but E will talk a lot at the movies -- and whispering isn't something he remembers to do very well. So it might work better to rent a DVD then actually go to the cinema, but he certainly can go.
If you're looking for fun backyard activities -- swinging, blowing bubbles, rocket balloons are a huge hit for all my kids (If you aren't familiar with these -- they are sometimes hard to find -- they are long thin balloons that you inflate with a handheld air pump and then launch), kicking a ball around -- although this works best with a grown-up around. Don't expect a lot of cooperative imaginative play -- structured games work much better.
For inside play... if you can find out what the kid is really into and you have that thing or something like it -- you are all set! E loves robots, and circuit boards and handheld video games and music. He also really likes marble runs and those are fun for lots of kids and they can probably do it cooperatively if the neuro-typical kid is patient.
Could you address the myth that autism is contagious? I think that would be very helpful too.
Autism is not contagious and it is not currently curable. So let me hit on that myth -- you can't recover from it, you can, however, learn to cope with it. Autism is a neurological disorder. It isn't a virus, so you can't "catch it," and last time I checked you can't outgrow the way you are neurologically "wired." Sitting next to my son will not suddenly make your kid autistic, it might, however, make you look at something differently.
Ivy, thank you so much for all your time and patience putting together these detailed, insightful, and thorough answers! You have helped empower all of us to understand this disorder a little bit better. Keep up the excellent work on your blog, Into the Wind. I’ll be back there often!
Now just think of all the "oohs and ahhs" you'll get at the playground when you whip up one of these in a matter of seconds! Or... maybe that's the sort of thing that only happens in my craft fantasies.
Now just think of all the "oohs and ahhs" you'll get at the playground when you whip up one of these in a matter of seconds! Or... maybe that's the sort of thing that only happens in my craft fantasies.
. I had the honor of meeting Debbie while taping a recent segment for 
