by Dawn Marcotte

Created on: August 12, 2010

Asperger’s is a form of Autism that manifests differently in each child. Many have difficulty with organization, understanding body language and time management. These characteristics may cause them to have a hard time completing tasks in school and at home. Parents and teachers alike can become frustrated trying to get these children moving and keep them focused. There are several strategies that can help adults manage these characteristics and help the children learn to overcome this inertia.

Structure

These children need consistent structure and schedules, but cues should not depend on a clock. Establish a pattern for difficult times of the day. For example in the morning the child should get up at the same time, eat breakfast, get dressed, comb hair and brush teeth in the same order each morning. Provide a written list of the tasks and the order they should be completed. Younger children will need verbal reminders such as, "When you finish breakfast please get dressed right away." Keeping a consistent schedule will help the children perform designated tasks more easily with fewer problems. If possible, model the activities and do them with the child to show her what to do.  Children with Aspergers may not be able to learn by simple observation. They must be taught, step, by step, how to do daily tasks. Provide rewards for the timely completion of all tasks. Something as simple as a sticker chart can help modify behavior.

Eliminate Distractions

Many children with Asperger’s have a hard time processing more than one kind of stimuli at a time. Eliminate distractions such as television, music, computer or any other electronic devices. Establish a rule that the child may not have access to any of these devices until the designated chore or activity is completed. My daughter responded particularly well to this as she got older and these items became more important to her. Make sure the child is actually listening to you. You may need to touch their arm or shoulder before you ask them to do something. If they are already busy with an activity it may take a moment or two for them to switch to the new task.

Personality Style

Children with Aspergers learn and behave differently than other children. Many children will learn what to do by simple observation and follow the established ‘rules’ because that is the behavior expected. Asperger children often need a concrete reason to perform a task. “You must get dressed now so we

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