Won't interact with peers

[Guest guest]

I would like to get input from the group as well. My son is in the same

boat, although much younger.

He is very high functioning and verbal, but chooses to play alone. He is

obsessed with letters, numbers, shapes & colors (he is Hyperlexic also) and

will go off by himself and play with these objects (which are not that

interesting to other kids).

He will allow other children to approach him, but he never approaches them.

For instance, we dropped him off in the church nursery a couple of weeks ago

and when we picked him up and asked how everything went, they told us " oh his

was just fine. Very independent, didn't want much to do with any of us

though. " (we don't tell people he is autistic that we don't know very well

because it's not obvious with Dylan, but it's these sort of comments that let

me know he is still quite different from other 2 year olds).

We are also just getting started with RDI and will be attending Dr.

Gutstein's workshop in October here at UCLA. I take him to all kinds of

playgroups, Gymboree 2-3 times a week and expose him to lots of other

children his age. He is very interested in adults and older children, but

not his peers (which I know is common for autistic children). Any ideas

would be great. Thanks!

Christy Crider (Dylan's Mom) 2.5 years old

High Functioning Autistic, Hyperlexic & SID

Corona, CA

christycrider@...

From: khanvey <khanvey@...>

Subject: HelP!! My son can, but won't interact with peers.

I need advice on how to get my My 4.9 y.o. son to interact with his

peers. He has been in an ABA program for 2.5 years. He is high

functioning and very verbal. He has been in a preschool setting since

he was 2.5 and appears to be very comfortable around peers.

However, at school and during play dates, he prefers to play by

himself. He will only interact if it is on his terms, and something he

wants to do (an activity that is usually very boring to the peer). The

more I or the peer prompt him to interact, the more resistant he gets.

If I prompt too much, he just leaves the room. Offering strong

reinforcers doesn't help.

Occasionally, if I set up and direct a really fun game, he will join in

and have fun, but only if he is in the right mood. At times I have been

able to get them doing something like coloring together, and then back

off, but that is the exception.

I just started doing RDI with him, which is going well. I am thinking

about dropping the whole play date thing until we get further into RDI,

as I am tired of entertaining 5-year-olds while my son plays in another

room. I don't see that the play dates are doing anyone any good.

Any suggestions?

Thanks