Sexual Education and Elementary Age Children with ASD- Part 2

Young children are naturally curious about their bodies, and children with ASD are no exception.  When children are young, it is important to teach them about their bodies, and about privacy.  This is also a good time to teach children about different social norms.  For example, if you have a child that takes his clothing off at inappropriate times, teach them when it is okay to do so (private) and when it isn't okay (public).  This will help to protect them now and as they get older.  

It can be intimidating to think about what to teach your elementary aged child about sexual education.  Key concepts at this age are vocabulary for their bodies and personal boundaries.   Teach children what parts of their bodies are private and what to do if someone touches them in a private area. There are many different ways to teach children with ASD these key concepts including social stories, role playing, interactive stories, and discrete trial formatted file folder activities.  Tailor the materials to your child's learning style and review the material frequently.  By teaching children about their bodies and personal boundaries, you can help empower and protect them.

Book of the Week: More Tools for Teaching Social Skills in School Grades 3-12: 35 Lesson Plans with Activities, Role-plays, Worksheets, and Skill Posters to Improve Student Behavior/ by Midge Odermann Mougey, Jo C. Dillon and Denise Pratt. Boys Town Press, 2009.

Description: Contains lesson plans for social skills including Making a request, accepting awards and honors, communicating honestly, choosing appropriate friends, getting the teacher's attention, accepting decisions of authority, declining an offer graciously, making an appropriate complaint, setting goals, setting appropriate boundaries. This isn't specific to sex education overall, but does have a plan on inappropriate touch as well as plans on boundaries in general.