• Replies 15 replies
  • Subscribers 65 subscribers
  • Views 5994 views
  • Users 0 members are here
Options
Related
Hints and tips
  • To quote someone's message, first select/highlight the relevant text, and then use the Quote button that appears
  • To "mention" someone, type @ followed by the start of the forum name, and choose from the list; that person will get a notification of being mentioned

What, when and how to tell your child that s/he's autistic

ByteBandit

Hello,

We're in a bit of a quandry. We have two daughthers, 2yo and 7yo, both have a diagnosis of HFA. The 2yo is very physical and sees other kids as obstacles to be pushed, shoved, bitten, whatever it takes to get or do what she wants. Following various incidents in play areas we're contemplating getting one of these "I have autism" t-shirts, either from the NAS or elsewhere, along with a box of hand out cards. But, just a bit concerned the 7yo will ask "What is autism?". This falls firmly into the box of other "how do I answer" questions such as "Who is God?". As yet, the 7yo has never asked anything or indicated she has any awareness that she is different or treated differently to any of the other kids, but this is only a matter of time, maybe a long time, but it will come.

This set me wondering. Do we pre-empt her asking and just tell her straight, especially as her younger sister is a bit of a sore thumb so to speak, do we drip feed information as and when she needs it? How do you tell somebody with a communication disorder that they have a communication disorder?

Any insight from parents in a similar situation particularily welcome!

 

Regards,

Mark Leavesley

Parents

  • My son is  10 and was diagnosed 4 years ago, i have always been casual about

    his autism and have spoken to him about it. He never took any interest but i thought it would be easier if we didn't treat it as a major issue. Skip 4 years, due to his asd becoming more pronounced we decided to send him to a specialist school. When he went for his visits he was nervous (of a sort) and for the first time that evening he asked about his autism. " what is autism and why am i it" were his words. (good title for a book) i was speechless i had rehearsed this so many times and now because he asked me i didn't know what to say. I hope i gave him some words of comfort. I am trying to think of some motivational posters i can draw to put in his room to show him that he has a fantastic future and he is a fabulous person who just happens to have asd. I could probably do with some help.

Reply

  • My son is  10 and was diagnosed 4 years ago, i have always been casual about

    his autism and have spoken to him about it. He never took any interest but i thought it would be easier if we didn't treat it as a major issue. Skip 4 years, due to his asd becoming more pronounced we decided to send him to a specialist school. When he went for his visits he was nervous (of a sort) and for the first time that evening he asked about his autism. " what is autism and why am i it" were his words. (good title for a book) i was speechless i had rehearsed this so many times and now because he asked me i didn't know what to say. I hope i gave him some words of comfort. I am trying to think of some motivational posters i can draw to put in his room to show him that he has a fantastic future and he is a fabulous person who just happens to have asd. I could probably do with some help.

Children
No Data