[senco-forum] Autism and playtime/lunch (long)

Eighteen months ago I had the same problem, how to meet the needs of
autistic boys (secondary) during lunchtime whilst also developing their
social skills.  The solution for me was tabletop wargaming - something I'd
done as a child and involved my boys in as they went through early teens.

What started as a club for four boys twice a week now involves 22 boys Years
7 to 9  every lunchtime, and breaks when I'm feeling generous, and before
school when they arrive with their armies, and after school if I've nothing
better to do (or want to avoid doing some paperwork!).  The group includes
five autisitc pupils, othrer pupils with a range of learning and social
needs, and other pupils with no needs other than enjoying a hobby.

I use Gamesworkshop's products (Warhammer 40K) which are expensive but
extremely well designed and made.  Many of my club memebers use e-bay (where
you'll find a huge amount for sale).  Be warned the school has spent ?450
buying armies for the club, I didn't eant any child not to play because they
can't aford it.  Plus I've spent probably the same over the past year ('cos
it's become my hobby and I like buiding and painting little toy soldiers)!
For me the biggest pleasure is in seeing these pupils with social &
communications difficulties coming together and sharing in a social
activity.

The biggest benefit of the Gamesworkshop commection is their shops.  These
act as mini clubs where they encourage the boys (yes it's mainly but not
exclusively boys) to play in the shop.  They'll teach them the rules, run
competitions, teach them to build and paint the kits and figures and sell
them lots more!  As a registered school club I get support from the company
in the form of guys who'll come and run games days in the school, I stage
two or three all day events at school (they come off timetable for the
day)supported by a member of the local shop.

As I tell the parents table-top wargaming involves and develops a huge range
of skills including maths: measurement, estimation, probability,
interpreting tables, using statisitcs etc; english: all the members now read
a huge amount, there is a considerable range of reading books, novels and
'factual' (search for the Black library), social skills: negotiation,
discussion, communication, conflict resolution etc; art: building and
painting the figures and scenery; to name a few.

I've written a short paper describing the profound effect this has had on
one of my autisitc pupils.  He is now a senior member of the club, the
'rules guru' who all the younger lads come to to learn the rules.  He plays
regularly at the shop and has develped a group of friends who share his
hobby both in school and from the larger community.

Richard

-----Original Message-----
From: senco-forum-bounces at lists.becta.org.uk
[mailto:senco-forum-bounces at lists.becta.org.uk]On Behalf Of
Chrisgier at aol.com
Sent: 19 August 2006 10:03
To: pmacken1 at bigpond.net.au; senco-forum at lists.becta.org.uk
Subject: Re: [senco-forum] Autism and playtime/lunch

I am about to take over as SENCo at an independent secondary school and
providing lunchtime activities for children with aspergers/similar type
symptoms
is one of the things I have to address. The children are allowed in the
library  and can use their laptops there at lunchtime but again this can be
quite
isolating. So far I have thought about setting up a Games Club - board, card
games  - maybe Pictionary etc as a way of providing something to do,
somewhere
to go and hopefully as a way of fostering friendships. Any other ideas
would
be very welcome.
Thanks
Chris