Mentoring a 10 Year Old with HFA with making friends

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Glowz44
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Age: 33
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13 May 2013, 10:14 pm

I'm a well known Aspie in my community, however i have been a social success, I'm a contributor to my local Australian Rules Club, My Mates and get invited to many parties and gatherings.

Just the other week i have been asked by a Mother of a boy who has Asperger's to mentor and give him some advice on how make friends and live a sucessful social life.

I have thought it is about time i try and give back to the Aspie Community, By Volunteering my time to give some help.

May i please have some feedback on how to do this?



AardvarkGoodSwimmer
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13 May 2013, 11:43 pm

In paradoxical, zen-like fashion it seems like the golden way to make friends is to undertry. It's a little like Texas Hold'em poker, you win some, you lose some, and some hands you graciously fold. You know all this.

What might slip your mind is how fiercely competitive, hierarchical, excluding and unfair 'school' can be. Once a kid gets a negative label, even if his twin brother with excellent social skills showed up, the twin brother would face a very difficult situation and it would be far from a sure thing. One lesson I draw from this is don't put all your social eggs in the one basket of school. Think community theater, community choir, community sports team, robot club, etc, in addition to the social possibilities of school.