Teaching child that sometimes other children copy you.

[daf1234]

This is the first time I have posted on here, sorry if it's not in the correct place!

My child is struggling with understanding that it is ok that people copy somethings she does and chooses. If someone copies her way of dancing, drawing, food choice, top, style, games etc. she has a breakdown and shouts at the other person for being "naughty".

Any advice on how to teach her that sometimes when someone copies you it can be a compliment and she can not stop others making similar choices as her. I want her to understand that everyone is free to make choices - even if they are originally her idea.

I want to help her distinguish between inappropriate copying (Copying on tests and mimicking/repeatedly copying what is said) and acceptable copying.

Anything I can say or some games/plans I can follow to help her would be great!

How old is she? Is she old enough to appreciate hearing original & cover versions of rock / pop songs? Or show her famous paintings and modern copies / adaptations? Try Vitruvian Man or Mona Lisa: they even have Lego versions!

What do you mean by food choice? School dinners and the child behind her wants pizza too isn’t copying, same packed lunch isn’t copying. Same top, it’s likely the parents buy the clothes (assuming she’s very young).

I would also try to make her understand other children making the same or similar choices is not actually copying her, pizza for dinner and a top out of a high street store (for example) are simply common choices not original ideas.

She is 7 years old with lower scale autism (Should have mentioned this in post - sorry)

A child (My friend's daughter) liked my daughter's dress. She asked her mother if she could have the same one. Food choice example: I asked my nephew and daughter what they'd like for dinner. My nephew asked for sausages with chips and peas. My daughter asked for beans instead of peas, so my nephew said that it sounded nice so wanted the same. Another example is when my daughter is dancing with friends and they are coming up with new moves. She can't see a problem with using her friends moves, but if she makes up a new move and the others use it she can't cope. These are all very common and acceptable 'copying'/choice making. But she cannot comprehend how it is OK for others to make similar choices.

When I says she can't cope, I don't mean she goes into a huff. She shouts and tells the other child off and can even hide under the table.

I may set up a sorting activity where she chooses 'good' and 'bad' copying - copying in tests / copying dance moves etc.

You could try a social story around the issue - google will explain about them.

can you explain she is the teacher and they are the pupils and its great they can learn from her (in the dance for instance)

Similar I was going to suggest that you Learn a dance together so you both watch a dance routine and you might pick it up quicker so you show her the video then you bother try to copy them another time you get her to copy you. Then discuss each time then perhaps she can watch one a few times and then she has to teach you and you copy her. This might work.