I have been surprised how children learn so differently. I mean I know adults learn through various ways, some learn from visual, some need to physically do the job (eg computer) to get the skills, some just need to read a book or attend a lecture and some a combination

of all. So I should not have been surprised that children were the same. From birth I had the expectation that there were some things that I would need to teach my son eg: reading, brushing his teeth, using the toilet and some things he would just pick up like appropriate behaviour and playing. Sadly my boy has aspergers and has been unable to just "pick up skills". So I have had to rethink and get to know my son all over again. How does he learn? surprisingly it took me sometime to get the answer. How did he learn to go to the toilet? to read? to play? This started me thinking about when I did training, I needed to read, hear and then do. Was my son the same?....

I have been battling this and decided to try something new out. I bought a series of books called the help me be good series. My son loves to read and seems to take in the information well. that sorted the hearing side of learning. I then play a game to reinforce the lesson in the book as suggested by the parent guide which arrived with the book. Which for Shane I guess is like on the job training!!. I then wait for a situation similar in "real life" and see if shane picks up the similarility. (details of the books are in the Aspergers support group page)

We read a book on disobeying and on teasing. We played games to reinforce and then the real life project. In the last few days my son has been amazing. Especially for a child with aspergers syndrome. He picks up and looks at me and says I was disobeying mum!! also recognised that he was teasing his friend and told me he was sorry for teasing.

I have had to really open my mind to hear my sons needs, I guess I have learn't not to assume he learns things like everyone else. He is a real academic, very smart but social stuff is a real challenge for him. BUT now I can help him. Learning can be painful and distressing for child and parents but this has taken the unhappiness out of it for us, Shane is smiling and better behaved and I am much less stressed.

My advice - observe your child, are they having problems in an area of there life? do they need skills they do not possess? do they need a different learning program!!!. I might add term 1 shane had 9 detentions term 2 only 1. Teacher has a program at lunch where shane is kept busy in sport like activities....... A teacher with an open Mind! priceless