I have a similar profile boy like yours, except mine is still in ES. He is not a fan of outdoors or sports, but he will do it just to have fun with other kids. He does team sports for years just because he enjoys the atmosphere of team sports playing with other kids even though he sucks at it. He seems to enjoy scout so far, and we have done camping, hiking and a few community events. As long as there is only one familiar face, even not exciting activities become fun. My son loves to play four square as well at school, and he plays with a few kids at recess. Even though he is a bit social lacking, I am surprised that he does have friends at school even though I always think he has none. He has never talked about them or think about hanging out with them outside of school. When I attend school event, he is not by himself. He has a few kids around him. All of his friends are NT kids, so they probably help to guide him and make it work. I notice that none of his friendship is deep, but it works for him. My approach is to target to talk to kids that click with my kid at school to facilitate some potential kid friendship, like talking what kids do on weekends, any sports sign up or etc . It gets harder when kids are older. Because he does sports, it is easier to talk about it.

Your home ABA team should be able to help with all of this, I would start there.

What does he like? My autistic child has the most social success in groups based around her special interests.

You can be in a Troop and not do the outdoor activities. Meetings can be fun, some are not but many have kids moving from stations to staion with activities involved. They are moving and learning. Some Troops camp and hike a lot but Scouts don’t have to participate in that if they don’t want to. We have Scouts who come on Saturday of a near by camp out to do the activity and go home after dinner.

Scouts who don’t camp are not likely to earn Eagle, you have to camp a certain number of nights to earn the camping merit badge, but Scouts really isn’t about earning Eagle. It is about learning, growing, and having a good time with your peers. If he enjoys the meetings and the kids, he should stay with his Troop.

Hello forum,

My kid is a young-aged 6th grader. He is aspinger level. He doesn't have much classroom support and the main issue is social skill. He is on adhd med but the main issue is calling out in classroom or interrupting. he still needs to improve conversation level - a long lengthy conversation or small talk type.

We tried cub scout from the school and one of his classmate dad was the den leader. So he made friend with that boy. Now they move to boy scout. My kid is not really into outdoor hiking etc. he just wants to have chance to play with other kids. He plays better with NT kids since they are usually more outgoing and able to direct the situation.

We are able to have playdate with his boy scout grade mate most of time. yet past 4 days when he asked, he was told his friend would need to organize clean for 4 days. no time for playdate. I really feel sad for him. He is hurt and he did not tell me when he came home until I asked if he wanted me to set up playdate.

He is in a social group and has been in social group for 2-3 years after ABA.

I am scare of middle school. I saw how fairfax county just rotate kids among classrooms. In this case, he may have no social life. He truly enjoys breaktime now in elementary school. He plays four squares. once time other kids want to kick him out, the teacher said no. He has been able to enjoy this game.

What the social group doesn't help is that there is no long term relationship between kids. Social is not just casual chat about weather or hobbies.

He is very into video games, history and enjoy talking politics.

I wonder

1. if I can set up a kid group like his age myself, is this feasible? need kids at close level.
2. willl a small different middle school help? I am afraid he will say he wants to stay with his friends.
3. will joinning a church help? His music teacher is in a church and encourage. He is not into it.

What do you recommend? He went to a peer group offered by a speech group, the other kid is lower level. We did not get much out of it.

He currently plays tennis but little chance to talk in training. I will go observe more.

Please help me.

Thanks!