Hi there, I am new to the community but have found looking at previous posts and discussions so helpful in trying to support our neurodiverse 8yo daughter whom we, school and the educational psychologist have strong suspicions has ASD.
She is academically very able but really struggles socially and finds understanding social norms, cues etc. and regulating her emotions challenging especially with female peers. We are currently on the seemingly never-ending(!) CAMHS waiting list for a Developmental Assessment. She has always been labelled bossy, a cry-baby etc. etc. by both peers nand teachers
Currently she has developed an unhealthy obsession/fixation with two female peers who don't share her current special interest (Harry Potter) and are not interested in playing with her, I understand from school that despite them trying to steer her away from them that she will not be moved on this, continually leaving the girls notes and harrassing them to play her game. This oten escalates into a row usually instigated by our daughter resulting in her becoming increasingly distressed and isolated. We have tried through social stories to explain that being a friend isn't someone saying "go away I don't want to play with you" and support her with other games and strategies she could suggest to other peers but she feels increasingly socially isolated but will not move on the fixation. At home we usually get an emotional download of how the pair have been horrid to her and yet when we try to suggest moving on she can't and says they are the only people she wants to be friends with.
School have not been very helpful and just ask us what we think they should do and are limited in the activities off the playground they are able to offer due to covid restrictions particularly as they are a single-form entry school.
Her self-esteem is so low and she feels she is destined to be 'alone' for the rest of her life.
I guess what I'm asking is does anyone have experience of this? Any suggestions for how we/school might support her?
Thanks you for reading and any advice would be greatly appreciated!
