How to help my non-SN Ds to relate to SN neighbour?

[fridayschild]

We've moved house and our neighbour's son has autism. He's 18 months older than DS. At the moment DS thinks it's fab that a big boy comes to play, it's cool that the big boy is allowed outside wearing just his pants, and great that the big boy has a sandpit in his garden. DS is nearly 4.

Soon he'll work out that our climbing frame is the appeal of our garden, and that the big boy isn't really interested in DS. I think this will make him sad - DS loves new friends and boys to play with.

If you were my neighbour, what would you want me to say?

I think it would be best to speak to his parents, and ask them if they want you to address this issue with your son, and if so, how. Autism varies in severity from person to person, and not all people with autism will have all of the classic autistic features.
My friend's son is autistic, and although he sometimes has difficulty in coping with social situations, he really enjoys imaginative play - which is not seen as a usual feature of autism.
I think you sound like a lovely neighbour, and I hope your son and his new friend have lots of great times together.

Thanks - I expect that seems like pretty basic advice from you, but it's actually really helpful. DS wants to give his neighbour a pair of pants with pictures of trains on, all the best pants in our house have those