Babysitting a child with Asperger's syndrome?

Question

I am going to be babysitting a 6 year old boy with Asperger's syndrome very soon. I am meeting the parents tomorrow. Is there anything I need to be aware of? Does any one have experience with kids with Asperger's and/or have any advice? Thank you!

Answer 1

Be supportive of the child & roll with the flow. Always keep them safe & stay 'ten steps ahead'. These children are usually very high functioning so he needs positive stimulation & exact directions. Find out his schedule & what works for mom & dad. Normally what works for them at one point will not the next... so always have a 'back up plan'. Staying calm, loving (but not a push over), & keeping a mild voice is always best. Setting a timer when the child is doing an activity will help you to be able to then move on to the next thing to do during your time with the child. Always know emergency numbers & even keep their home address written in sight because during an emergency one can forget where they are at. Good luck to you & be confident at all times with the child.

Answer 2

The earlier answers were great.  Here's what I wished someone had told me about young kids with Asperger's.... they behave (mostly) like robots.  Their speech is very direct and to the point.  He may see you and immediately insult you.  He may kiss you.  He behaves as the thought enters his mind.  Then again, he may not seem to know you are there.... Why would he?  You aren't interfering with his daily life?  ;)  

Ask the parents how they reward and correct him.  Does patting him on the shoulder work?  Does he receive a single M&M each time he meets one of his goals?  Does he respond to them raising their voice if he starts to run away from you or tries to wash his hands with hot water?  Those may seem minor, but when attempting to prevent an emergency, it sure would be nice to know!

Answer 3

bill gates has aspergers-

aspergers can include high intelligence and social awkwardness-but could also have average or below avergae intelligence-

may have difficulty with anything unexpected-

I find it very helpful to tell the child that a change is going to take place before it happens-they often need things to be as expected-if he expects his parents to come home during sesame street and they are early or late-he can be upset-but will handle it better if he is told ahead of time

Answer 4

He won't understand humor. He won't understand anything that is not direct. If you need to tell him to do something, give him the steps one at a time. Be patient. Get as much info from the parents as you can.

Answer 5

you better get some info on line or go to the library.

Asperger kids can have ADHD, COD and somtimes a

little Bipolar all mixed together.

Answer 6

Asperger's Syndrome lists the following as the most common signs of Asperger's Syndrome:

Lack of empathy

Naive inappropriate, one-sided interaction

Little or no ability to form friendships

Pedantic, repetitive speech

Poor non-verbal communication

Intense absorption in certain subjects

Clumsy and ill- coordinated movements and odd postures

Socially and emotionally inappropriate behavior.----

   Hopefully it is a mild case. Have you ever worked with a child with a disability before? I find it kinda odd they do not really know you but they trust you with there child who may require special needs. I have a child with a  disability, not Asperger's though. My daughter is deaf but i still would want someone watching her that could at least sighn to her you know. Just make sure you are not getting in over your head, and have a lot of patience. Ask the parents as many questions that you can think to ask, heck write them down if you have to. I am not trying to scare you it is just some cases are more extreme than others and you do not want to have any suprise ya know.  I hope these sites and this info helps you. Good Luck and God Bless You.

http://info.med.yale.edu/chldstdy/autism...

Asperger's Syndrome is a collection

of specific behaviors.

Parents find their children don't seem able to pick up on others' body language and cues. We take these observations for granted. At times they seem disconnected.

They may blurt out comments or observations at inappropriate times. For example, while shopping, if they see a man who is completely bald they may in a loud voice announce that the man is bald. They do not mean any harm but feel the need to state the obvious. Again this is not done in malice but done as a mere observation. When told that you shouldn't say things like that the child often doesn't understand why not, he is merely stating the truth. They believe that since the man is bald what is the problem with just saying it?

People with AS can make comments that are true but embarrassing. They don't pick up on the social cues or hints that a remark like, "That guy is really bald", is inappropriate and potentially hurtful. The child is confused as to why their parent is upset with them.

...intense fascination or preoccupation with a particular topic or object. Many times these children are labeled as gifted....

Another common behavior associated with AS is an intense fascination or preoccupation with a particular topic or object. This can be any topic.

Fascinations with machines (washing machines) and vehicles (like trains) are very common. The person with AS will become an expert and go to great lengths to talk to any one and everyone about this prized topic.

These interests can come and go, but while they are important to the person with AS they will center all of their conversation about this topic. Like our friend Jamie in the beginning of this article, he knew every American made car produced in the last 20 years.

Not only will the person know everything about their interest, but interrupt other's conversations with their vast knowledge. This can seem very rude. Other kids can become bored and avoid talking with this child. This can make meeting, making friends , and other social activities very difficult for the person with AS.

They will not perceive the facial signs or body language from the others who are in the group. They will not note boredom, or that someone has to leave the group or that someone is upset when they control the topic of conversation. They just continue to talk. Some have described a child with AS as a "human encyclopedia". Children with AS are seen as gifted, because of their ability to be so knowledgeable and intense about a variety of selected topics. Many times these children are labeled as gifted and placed into accelerated classes. But this can easily become a double-edged sword. Though they are intellectually very bright and have an above average IQ, they have a very difficult time adjusting to the social interactions of their classmates.This can led to depression, anger, and a huge sense of confusion. The child can have an incredible ability to remember events and information but can be resistant to other topics.

Best Practices

Teach social skills - be patient.

Behavior managment may be necessary, remember this child is motivated to please you, teach him/her routines and make sure they understand your expectations.

Use a buddy system, select a student or 2 to buddy with this student, they want and needs friends but don't know how to be a friend.

Establish daily routines and stick to them. Always provide lots of warning when your routine is going to change, class trips, supply teachers etc.

Minimize transitions.

Keep stimulus and distraction to a minimum.

Chunk information presented. The child won't retain a lot of information at once.

You may have to limit their 'special interest' time as they can become quite self absorbed with it.

Instructional strategies should focus on teaching concretely and complex tasks should be broken down

Answer 7

My younger sister is 6 and has aspergers syndrome. This information is basically what i've noticed about how it has affected my sister but it may be usefull to you too. The first thing you need to know is they have trouble relating to other people. The main thing you will notice is you cant really have a proper conversation with my sister because it can be hard to get a word in and because they dont really focus on body language they dont realize when someone is getting bored. Also im not sure if this is an asperges trait but she repeats phrases she hears on the tv. They have very strong interests and will only focus on one thing exclusivly. They can be a bit stubborn and like to get things their own way.my sister will getty really crabby if she doesn't get to watch what she wants on tv and sometimes throw a tantrum. Some are quite hyperactive. Though how hyperactive depends on wether or not they're taking medication. They are very smart but not in social situations. a man with aspergus flew over tokyo then drew an accurate 360 degree by by memory. Another memorized the  phonebook after reading it once!

A lot of this can depend on the severity of the condition though. But you will be fine. Just bring a book to read