1. Go Interactive
Parents of children with Asperger's syndrome should pick activities for their children that promote interaction with others. Consistent social interaction makes it easier to impart correct social behaviors to a child, which is something Asperger's patients often have trouble with. Encouraging interactions at home will make it easier for the child to socialize with kids at school. Especially during puberty and early adolescence, many Asperger's children experience social anxieties, which you can help to prevent by increasing the child's social confidence.
Finally, interactive play promotes structure. For example, participants in a game take turns playing. Asperger's children often struggle with structure and frequently have difficulty with concepts like waiting one's turn. However, they can be socialized to respond better to structure through these demonstrative activities.
2. Play to Your Child's Strengths
Note what your child is good at, and pick activities that harness and develop that skill. By definition, Asperger's syndrome patients show a particular aptitude in a relatively narrow subject, skill or ability. Find ways to build your child's self-confidence by encouraging her to do something she does well. For reasons not fully understood by researchers, children with Asperger's syndrome seem to perform well in either one-on-one or group settings, but rarely in both. You should choose activities that fall into the child's comfort zone. For example, if he enjoys solitude or one-on-one play, don't force him to join the soccer team.
3. Get Your Child Outdoors
Children with Asperger's tend to have a narrow range of focus, which you can use to the child's benefit by promoting repetitive physical activity. A classic example is encouraging the child to practice taking basketball shots repeatedly. You might also choose an element of play to transform a repetitive physical activity into a game. For instance, if the child swims laps around a pool, ask him to see how high he can count in a single lap, and then invite him to beat the record. Male children with this condition are at increased risk for having Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Recent clinical studies show that repetitive physical exercise is an excellent therapy for children with ADHD, and Asperger's kids seem to respond favorably as well.
4. The Arts Pose Rich Possibilities
With their narrow focus, many children develop an aptitude for music, particularly drumming. The amount of repetition and practice it takes to master an instrument meshes well with the way their minds work. Arts and crafts can also be a fruitful pursuit for patients. They respond particularly well to visual learning, and can also use the opportunity to refine and enhance motor skills and benefit from exposure to a wider range of means to express themselves.
