[radio_flyer]

Last week we found out the new renter's son is autistic.. He is just sooooooo cute and very, very active. He just runs to one end of the room and runs back. He does that all night. Bless his little heart. He is never still. Always moving. My heart goes out to this little 4 year old.

I've never been around autistic children so I'm not sure exactly how to "interact" with this little guy. I've talked to him but not sure he understood me. But I can say I think he gave me a hug (3 times). Not the regular arms around hug. He has his arms crossed and he slipped between my arms and then slipped back out. He won't let me give him a "regular type hug"..

He goes to a special school when his mama works. I don't see him often as they stay mostly upstairs. She was cooking, that is until the other "male renter" started eating her food. She got pretty upset that her food kept vanishing. She says she doubts she will last another month here because of her things being taken.. AJ hasn't seen the male renter lately, so he texted him about the food. Have a feeling the male renter is going to abandon ship by the end of this month. I could be wrong... who knows!

ANYway.. Any suggestions on how to interact with this cute, little 4 year old. I'm not rushing into anything right now. Taking it slow because I don't want to step in where I'm not welcome. I don't know what he is thinking as he runs back and forth. He never seems to be out of breath from constantly running or even tire out. Autism is I don't know what. What is autism>

Originally Posted by radio_flyer

Last week we found out the new renter's son is autistic.. He is just sooooooo cute and very, very active. He just runs to one end of the room and runs back. He does that all night. Bless his little heart. He is never still. Always moving. My heart goes out to this little 4 year old.

I've never been around autistic children so I'm not sure exactly how to "interact" with this little guy. I've talked to him but not sure he understood me. But I can say I think he gave me a hug (3 times). Not the regular arms around hug. He has his arms crossed and he slipped between my arms and then slipped back out. He won't let me give him a "regular type hug"..

He goes to a special school when his mama works. I don't see him often as they stay mostly upstairs. She was cooking, that is until the other "male renter" started eating her food. She got pretty upset that her food kept vanishing. She says she doubts she will last another month here because of her things being taken.. AJ hasn't seen the male renter lately, so he texted him about the food. Have a feeling the male renter is going to abandon ship by the end of this month. I could be wrong... who knows!

ANYway.. Any suggestions on how to interact with this cute, little 4 year old. I'm not rushing into anything right now. Taking it slow because I don't want to step in where I'm not welcome. I don't know what he is thinking as he runs back and forth. He never seems to be out of breath from constantly running or even tire out. Autism is I don't know what. What is autism>

Interacting with someone who has autism is very frustrating.

You have to understand, they have a hard time connecting socially.
Often times they are sensitive to touch, so they might not be able to be hugged, they just don't like it.

Can he talk? Some kids who are severely autistic aren't able to communicate verbally.

[radio_flyer]

I'm not sure if he can talk. He has " repeated a few words I have said to him" Other than that, I've only heard him make "verbal noises".. He seems to understand what his mom says yet I haven't heard him talk to her.

His mom said he has a low level of autism. Prob not saying that right.....I guess in other words it is not severe autism. Since I know "nothing" about autism, I would not know the difference. My heart just goes out to this precious, cute little boy.

[LiteraryLark]

I don't have any experience with autistic children, but most children that age have very active imaginations. At my former job at an elementary school we had a child who had a very bad home life and turned to James Bond as his hero, so I played James Bond with him going on special missions, and I was "The Doctor" from Doctor Who and I spoke to him with a British accent and we talked about how I was an alien and that I rode a spaceship called "The TARDIS". He loved it.

I would try finding out what his interests are. Maybe he is into pirates or Harry Potter.

[radio_flyer]

Good suggestions DrSkipper..........Thank you.

Looks like you touched one small boy's life in a positive way. Am sure he will never forget you as you brought much joy into his life..............

[Grey Matter]

I think the best thing to do is never pity him. Children, be autistic or neuro-typical, are very intuitive to the way we feel around and about them. I am not autistic myself, so I can't speak for the population, but let him grow used to you. He will interact as he is comfortable, and you wont have to worry!

As for the running around, I give a big laugh (in a nice way!) because god kids just never sit still, in our last apartment we had a five year old above us and it sounded like we lived under someone training for a marathon.

[radio_flyer]

You are so right as to not pity him and to just let him get comfortable around me. Sure takes the worry out of how to interact with him as this way he is in charge and when he wants to or when he is ready, he will interact with me........... great advice Teen Idle!

Been awhile since I've been around 4 year old kids. Looking back in my mind's eye. Memories of AJ when he was 5. Yes, never a dull moment. And he was always on the go. Guess that is what kept me thin, "back in the day", chasing or looking for AJ..

Originally Posted by radio_flyer

I'm not sure if he can talk. He has " repeated a few words I have said to him" Other than that, I've only heard him make "verbal noises".. He seems to understand what his mom says yet I haven't heard him talk to her.

His mom said he has a low level of autism. Prob not saying that right.....I guess in other words it is not severe autism. Since I know "nothing" about autism, I would not know the difference. My heart just goes out to this precious, cute little boy.

Repeating phrases or words is called "echolalia". Often they do make groans or other vocal noises.