Answers:
You need to have an autism expert work with and assess your child. Asperger's kids do not have language delays.
That's too early to diagnose it as Asperger's. But if it is, think about aiming the trajectory of his education toward a career that heavily involves those subjects. Programming, for instance, would be good, and you must remember that getting out into the work force is one of the biggest problems those guys face. Getting married is the other big problem, so you may want to make sure he gets some socializing by keeping him in regular school. If you could get him a tutor, but keep him in some kind of regular schooling at the same time, he'd really do well.
First of all I'm not SE teacher, I teach at the college level. But I have had much experience with gifted/SE. I say put him in the class where he will receive the most attention WITHOUT overwhelming him.
As for gifted in K to 3 I don't think its appropriate. Kids operate on so many levels, a child gifted one year is not the next. I saw that type of situation depress my sister when she figured out her daughter WAS NOT gifted just well coached! Your child may be, but I would suggest you wait and see. BUT get him as many books on MANY different subjects as you can. Don't just get stories (but don't neglect them either) but science, math, astronomy, etc..He may be his own best teacher.
An antedote:
Completely by accident I found something that helped a friends son, (who had the same syndrome) he loved to grow things. I was in a rush one day when buying a book for his birthday. I picked up a beginner gardening book. He loved it. It taught him science, math, horticulture, etc and he was able to see something he did grow. It came with a few packets of seeds and he was entranced from the minute he opened the book (5th birthday). He now, at 26, is a landscape designer and master gardener.
Wow... are you a great parent!
I am a High School teacher with some experience with teenage Asperger's kids...
I would encourage the strengths you mentioned constantly but I think as he grows into teenage and young adult years the most important aspect will be social skills and relationships. This will have a great deal to do with his success. If he can make and maintain friends, communicate outside of his close groups (like family) well and be involved in small relational groups (such as extra-curricular activities) it will set up his future well. Celebrate every success, and push a little socially but not too much.
Find someone at the school or school district who knows Asbergers and work closely with that person.
Many kids have great lives with Asberger's. Involved parents (like you) and trained help make the difference.
That is like my son. He was reading the paper and teaching his older cousins how to read at age 4. Behavior problems did not come into play until he was in school.
In fact, he had taken a radio into school to disassemble/assemble in 1st grade.
We turned that focus to puzzles. And a few years ago he learned how to play chess.
These both allowed him time to "play" and to foster his abilities--all the while learning how to problem solve. Used to think our son should be in gifted but he is in emotional support class and will be using his academics to do peer tutoring(which also will aid him in making friends.
He is 12 but emotionally is about age 10 and academically in 8th grade(tho he is only starting 7th).
i work in a special education school in brooklyn...we have many kids that at four have been diagnosed with aspergers. what has happened to many of them is exactly what you are doing give him the help he needs in other areas and then most of our kids go into a special program in kindergarten for kids with aspergers but most of them go to inclusion. but they did start off in special ed.. because we offer speech ot and pt to improve other needs. dont worry u r doing the right things and in my experience these children keep u laughing and smiling all day so u are blessed. the only thing that i suggest is that with our kids we know that the things they thrive in for example like reading writing etc.. but somekids will write and read all day and not learn how to socialize and creative drawing so my suggestion is refrain from praising to things u know he can do but encourage other activities and when he tries new things praise him especially if he doesn't want to be doing it. i encourage park play and socializing and creative drawing. also sometimes these children do not know how to deal with emotions they cant rationalize it like everything else so try maybe cue cards with emotional faces and ask him how he's feeling and why and especially when he gets angry...although u say he has no behavioral problems this is just an excercise for feeling and emotional outlets not necessarily for problematic children hope this helps some!
I think your child should be taught how to interact in a normal situation first. I suggest putting him in a regular school with a small teacher to student ratio like 1:5. This will help him apply the social skills that was taught to him during his therapy. Ask your speech therapists and occupational therapists about the possibility of setting a small combined speech - OT group for your child, initially dyad then a 3-4 kids group ( the children must be at least on the same speech level with each other). In this class they will be taught social / interactive skills. And whatever they have learned in this special group could be put to test in the regular school.
What kids on the spectrum need is social interaction with their typical peers.As you can see from the many answers you have already received,many kids show exceptional talent in concrete areas.At 3, my son could also read,write, add and subtract,do word search puzzles in seconds,yet he seemed deaf and blind to the people around him.After a few years in special ed. programs,behavior problems began.I found this quite troubling and I researched inclusion.With the support of the Special Ed. Director,my child had a one/one aide and began going to school with his typical peers in grade 2. At the beginning of each new school year,the Behavior Specialist would come into the class and speak to the kids about autism in general and more specifically about my child,since all kids are different.She told them about his likes and dislikes,and behaviors he may exhibit.She would allow the kids to ask her questions,and would come back to the class on a regular basis,to observe, and for the kids to ask things that may come up.Although he did continue with his therapies, being in a classroom with their typical peers,gives them something no therapist can.
Aspies do have talents in specific areas, but that alone does not mean he has aspergers. If he is an apsie, then the best thing you can do to foster his skills is to just not get in his way.
Also, tolerance of bad social skills only makes him worse if he has aspergers. Its best to gently correct him in plane English - don't use cues like poking him without arranging it with him first.
Many good answers here. If you are concerned about his socialization then how about a twice a week 1/2 day preschool? Preschool is the best preparation for kindergarten. I teach fully included kindergarten students and this is really an issue even for the regular ed kids. They need to learn to share and just generally how to get along with others. If your child is identified as having Asperger's then this will be an issue when he enters school.
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