Confession - I don't let the kids play outside anymore

TinyPinkBug

This is terrible, my kids love it outside and in the past they would spend most of the day outside playing.  But this summer, I have been keeping them in, even after dinner in the evening.  The problem is, Tyler wants to play with the other kids but completely lacks the social skills to do so.  The kids are all about 2-3 yrs older than him, so that doesn't help either.  In the past, it was only an occassional issue because they weren 't out much.  But this summer, one of the parents (right across the street) wont let her two kids in the house all day and evening, so they sit in the garage and then the other kids just go over there to play.  It is hard to say no when all the kids are there including the girl next door who used to always play with Ty, but not this summer because all the kids are out across the street all day so she goes there.  Not only is it awkward because Ty says and does all the wrong things, but it leaves me standing in their garage and no other adults around.  I really don't know the other parents, I am totally on the outside myself.  The kids aren't bad kids, they aren't mean to him.  They just don't include him.  And I get that, Ty says the wierdest things around them.  I kind of just don't know what to do.  I thought the behavior social worker from the school was supposed to help us with this stuff, but she has been pretty much useless :-(

MrsRichardson915

I don't really know what to say, other than I'm so sorry you are going through this. Is there any chance you could find some sort of support group for parents of children with similar issues, and maybe set up some playdates that way for him?  It must be so hard to feel like you are on the outside, are there opportunities for you to get to know any of the other neighborhood parents? I've found that it is really hard to make new friends as an adult. Everybody kind of already has their 'crew' and is so set in their ways, you know?

I hope that you are able to find some other avenues for Ty...isn't he starting school this Fall? Maybe that will help?

I'm sorry if none of this is helpful. Like I said, I don't really know what to say...but I do truly hope things get better for you. Hugs.

TinyPinkBug

I have tried to find some local parents with kids lik Ty, but haven't had any luck.  There is a sensory processing group, but they meet once a month at bedtime :-( so I haven't been able to go.  There is another one that meets at a school in the city, but the timing of that group is just as bed, it starts when I drop Ty off at school and runs through Bri;s nap.  I have met other parents with kids who have autism, but don't really fit with them either because Ty is so high functioning.  They always ask who diagnosed him and comment on how there kid could never do the things Ty is able to do at that age.

Tyler has been going to school for a year :-(  I have expressed my difficulties at home so they set up a social worker from our home elem. school to come to my house one hour a week to help me figure some stuff out with him.  She hasn't been much help :-(  She is currently reading several books trying to figure him out.  She just keeps saying that I am doing everything I should be and asking me a million questions about how I have handled a lot of issues up until now.  She is currently on vacation, I am hoping when she gets back she has some fresh ideas.  Now that I think about it, the school psychologist mentioned something about setting us up with some other families at school with kids similar to Ty, she said there are a few, so we could have playdates.  I may have to leave her a note today.

 

 

Telyco

Aww, I'm sorry. I would definitely try to get the names of the other parents...and then just dive right in and have a playdate at your house. They are probably feeling the exact same way

I hope you meet some kids that Tyler loves and that love him!

jnk062602

Telyco:

Aww, I'm sorry. I would definitely try to get the names of the other parents...and then just dive right in and have a playdate at your house. They are probably feeling the exact same way

I hope you meet some kids that Tyler loves and that love him!

I agree with this.  Sorry you are going thru this, it sounds like it sucks.