children being 'bribed' to spend time with autistic child... not sure how I feel about it.

[pingu2209]

This morning my ds was rather pleased as he had been given 'team points' from the teacher for spending time/playing with a child in his class that has autism. The child isn't severely autistic, it is mild-moderate.

I just don't know how I feel about it... sad, puzzled, worried, pleased the school is being 'cleaver' etc. I guess it is better than the child being all alone. But I'm not sure what message this is giving the children. They are all aged 7-9 (mixed year class).

I spoke to one other mum and she said that her dd is also given team points for taking the child into the lunch hall.

I'm not sure whether the child knows that his class peers are given team points when they take him to lunch or play in the playground with him. Certainly the child's mother does not know.

Im not sure how I feel about the getting the reward points or whatever it was (on phone so cant check OP) but I do think it should be behaviour that is encouraged, but maybe not so obviously if that makes any sense?

rather than a public 'heres a point for playing with the autistic Kid' it could be more subtle, but I know that this is more difficult.

I don't think that it's a perfect situation, but I think it's better than there being one boy being constantly ignored by the others because they don't "get him". I don't think it will send a "wrong message" so much as get them used to him and autism in general, so that next time they meet someone with autism they won't shy away as much.

I think it's the least worst solution.

Ds2 was 'naughty DS' to the other children at that age, justa. That was one of the reasons I wanted his peers to have the disability awareness talk.