An Annoying Classmate

Parents, if your kids talk to you about an annoying kid in their school, please ask WHY the kid is annoying. Young kids can’t understand special needs kids if they aren’t educated on the subject.

Sure they get it when they see a kid in a wheelchair, using a white cane or the like but they don’t get other issues unless an adult explains.

As an example, kids with Asperger’s Syndrome might seem annoying to other kids and because of that Aspergers kids can often be the targets of bullying.

If you have a child who has been diagnosed with Aspergers, you get this only too well. It’s the adults who don’t know what Aspergers is that this post is directed toward.

So backtracking, if your child mentions a tattletale, goodie-goodie or annoying classmate, ask a few questions.

1.  Does the kid ever look you in the eye?

2.  Does the kid act like he or she cares about the feelings of others?

3.  Does the kid adjust well to changes like fire drills, schedule changes or substitute teachers?

4.  Does the kid wait his or her turn to talk or take action?

5.  Does the kid have facial expressions like the other kids?

6.  Does the kid know a lot about one subject and talk about it even when no one is listening?

7.  Do loud noises or lights make the kid react differently from the other kids?

If your child answers “no” to any of the 1-5 questions and “yes” to either 6 or 7, there is a possibility that the annoying kid has Asperger’s Syndrome. You need to explain that to your child so that he or she will understand that the “annoying kid” isn’t aware or in control of the actions that are annoying.

Encourage your child to overlook the annoying habits and above all explain that there is zero tolerance for bullying anyone and that there will be consequences if your child breaks the rules. Encourage your child to “stick up” for the annoying kid.

Contact the school and advise administration about the conversation you had with your child about the “annoying kid.”

Guess what? You just might save a life. That would feel pretty good. Wouldn’t it?

Photo by betobeto