Neighbor's kid....

[Sadielady]

Originally Posted by Mojo

I never said they were, but the kid still isn't a normal 3 year old. "..about 50% of autistic children score in the mentally retarded (IQ 70 or lower) range on IQ tests". I never saw the kids test scores, so I couldn't tell you.

Do you also know that children with autism don't test well, so their IQ scores may not be valid? Like I said educate yourself some more.

[Sadielady]

Maybe some of you that know a child with autism should get to know the family a little better and offer assistance. Maybe say " I know it must be difficult to get a break, I'd be willing to have your kids play at my house for an hour if you would like to go grocery shopping by yourself!" Parents are often overwelmed and seldom have help. It is difficult to get anything done because these children do need constant supervision. Offering assistence is much better than calling CPS when you don't know if this is the norm in their family. If you find out that the children are truly in danger then involve CPS. As a parent, when I got home and heard about a similar incident my husband would get an earful. Threatening divorce is silly, my husband pays the bills, and I raise the kids, that would not be possible without him. You do need to know the whole story. I am off my soapbox and back to the horsey peeps!

[poster]

Originally Posted by Sadielady

I haven't read all the posts yet, but I do have an opinion already. I have a child with autism and she is one of the loves of my life. She is easy to lose track of because she would rather play by herself. I am usually working with her on developing skills or less than a room away though. BUT on the flip side my husband does NOT watch our children the same way that I do. It makes me angry but I would certainly hate for someone to call CPS on us when it is a rare occasion that he even has to watch them. Raising children with autism is a whole different world than raising typically developing kids. Thanks for watching over them even though it was not your choice. That was a case of BAD DADDY, not bad family.

You're exactly right and that is why I choose to not call CPS. Yesterday evening I caught the mother. She's livid over the incident. She told me the older boy didn't get into trouble, just talked to. But her and the father had a long "talk" about it and it wouldn't be happening again.

[poster]

Originally Posted by Sadielady

Maybe some of you that know a child with autism should get to know the family a little better and offer assistance. Maybe say " I know it must be difficult to get a break, I'd be willing to have your kids play at my house for an hour if you would like to go grocery shopping by yourself!" Parents are often overwelmed and seldom have help. It is difficult to get anything done because these children do need constant supervision. Offering assistence is much better than calling CPS when you don't know if this is the norm in their family. If you find out that the children are truly in danger then involve CPS. As a parent, when I got home and heard about a similar incident my husband would get an earful. Threatening divorce is silly, my husband pays the bills, and I raise the kids, that would not be possible without him. You do need to know the whole story. I am off my soapbox and back to the horsey peeps!

Unfortunately I don't think I could handle him. I do watch on occation another child with a different disability for a friend and her other children come over often to play or sleep over.

[barncat]

Originally Posted by Sadielady

BUT on the flip side my husband does NOT watch our children the same way that I do.

My 23 month old does not have autism but my husband loses her in public places because he gets carried away talking to someone and forgets to keep an eye out for the little one. It scares me when he tells me he lost her in the mall for a few minutes because that's all it takes for some sicko to grab her and leave the mall.

[Sadielady]

Originally Posted by poster

Unfortunately I don't think I could handle him. I do watch on occation another child with a different disability for a friend and her other children come over often to play or sleep over.

Actually I think you handled the situation very well. Some people aren't comfortable with children with autism because they don't know how to relate to these children. Getting to know the families and becoming comfortable around them and how they deal with their children makes it easier. If you still don't feel comfortable watching a child with autism, offering some other form of help or friendship may be appreciated. Maybe offer to watch the 7 year old, or pick up something at the grocery store, or even asking how the are doing. It is really quite simple, and may mean SO MUCH to the family. I know this isn't the autism support thread, but it really could make a difference in someone's life.

[beamher]

Originally Posted by LexiGirl75

I really wasn't over the story told on here a couple of summers ago by the woman who had a 6-8yr old and a neighbor-child of the same age came over to play and brought the younger sibling about 2-3y/o with him/her including a knapsack filled with diapers just in case.

i had invited a neighbors kid to an amusement park and the parent told me that she couldn't go if the younger sibling couldn't go; besides the age gap and opposite sex....needless to say, I took neither.

[Sadielady]

Originally Posted by beamher

i had invited a neighbors kid to an amusement park and the parent told me that she couldn't go if the younger sibling couldn't go; besides the age gap and opposite sex....needless to say, I took neither.

Well at least you made the attempt.