Giants v Cowboys
Looking at this journal entry, I’m struck by a very simple socialization tip. Try doing what your child already likes, does at home, and is comfortable with…wait for it…but with others.
The photos show Michael laying on the couch, watching the game, just as he would at home, but at our friends’ house. He loves football, and happily watched the game.
That’s not to say he wasn’t accepting some changes. A different house has different lighting, different smells, different rules, different food and a large gathering has a whole different volume level.
So, asking your child to tolerate all these changes is good because it will help them grow into a person who can tolerate different environments, but it will be less challenging if there is something in it for them. For Mikey, great snacks and football were more than enough!
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About the Author
Erica Mauro is a mom to two teenage boys, Will who is neurotypical and Michael with Autism and cognitive delays. She holds a BA in Psychology from Colgate University and a Masters of Psychology in Education from Columbia Teacher’s College. Before staying home with her children, she worked as an elementary school teacher. For five years, she served on the Board of Directors of the Molly Ann Tango Memorial Foundation, a charity dedicated to enriching the lives of children with special needs. In partnership with her husband Dave, she aspires to parent by using daily life as an opportunity for therapeutic intervention, seizing on real experiences as opportunities to build skills and strategies for Michael in a joyful, loving home environment. On the tougher early days, she just tried to get everyone safely to bedtime and start fresh in the morning. *wink* 
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