Drama for Aspergers

Aspergers is a neurodevelopmental disorder presented by several difficulties in social interaction, non-verbal communication, repetitive, rigid, and restrictive behaviours, and limited interests.

Children with Aspergers tend to learn, play, speak, and act differently from others. They exhibit different speech patterns, obsessions, limited facial expressions, and other mannerisms. They obsess about routines and might also show an unusual sensitivity to sensory stimuli. It can also affect children's language skills. Aspergers is a form of Autism and is merged with other disorders on the spectrum.

Besides Drama, there are some techniques that you can adopt at home to make your child’s life slightly easier. These include teaching children self-awareness, practicing problem-solving skills, practicing social skills and interactions, and practicing socially appropriate behaviour.

Let’s take a look at some benefits that Drama can offer to help children diagnosed with Aspergers:

1. Improved Self-Esteem and Self-Confidence

As mentioned earlier, children with Aspergers might have repetitive, rigid, and restrictive behaviours. This explains their love for daily routines. Disrupt that routine and children will definitely feel lost and confused. Children with Aspergers behave in this manner because their restrictive behaviour is what they know best. They are not ready to introduce new behaviours in their lives, because new behaviours are not what they’re accustomed to. My Drama lessons have structures and routines but I also love introducing new exercises and games. My classes help children feel comfortable because of the expected routine but, through new games and exercises, children with Aspergers expect something different every time. Slowly, they start getting used to the idea that change, even though sometimes scary, can be good and exciting. This will prove to them that they are capable of handling change, find change less challenging, and maybe start considering a break in those rigid routines.

2. Recognition and Identification of Emotions

Children diagnosed with Aspergers can sometimes struggle to express themselves and might find it difficult to recognise and identify different emotions. As I mention in my previous posts, I love using scripts and they give children the opportunity to focus on several characters. They're asked to analyse everything they notice about the people they are playing. These discoveries can include character traits, emotions, speech patterns, behaviours, gestures, body language, verbal language, etc. The list goes on forever. After they've done all this work, children can play these characters with so much more conviction. Now, after having analysed their characters, children can reflect on their characters' emotions to see how these discoveries can help them express themselves when they're not acting. It's a simple acting exercise that's helping them reflect on their everyday behaviour, and their emotional growth, and shows them how things can improve in the future. This is the very reason why I love Drama.

3. Social Skills & Teamwork

Children diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome can struggle to understand social situations, and subtle forms of communication like body language, humour, and sarcasm. Drama helps children learn to communicate with each other, learn how to process thoughts in their heads, come up with ways to handle conflict within a scene and so much more. It also improves the vocal aspect of communication where they get to experiment with vocal projection, tone, expression, articulation, diction, speed, and delivery. This is also closely linked to listening skills.

Improvisation invites them to feed on each other's thoughts, share ideas and come up with a solution for their given conflict. This is achieved through teamwork and collaboration. Teamwork is a skill that needs training, especially for those students who find it challenging to include others or those who feel easily distracted when not working alone. And, of course, teamwork introduces new friendships. Children bond very quickly with each other and theatre gives them that push to start those first conversations to support each other.

I m going to stop here today because, firstly, I don’t want to bore you and secondly, I just realised I forgot to feed my dog. There are so many people out there willing to help you out. When things get too stressful or too much to handle, do reach out for help. Raising a child isn’t an easy job but raising a child with Aspergers has its unique challenges. Please do look after yourselves because your children need healthy parents with a strong and healthy minds to take care of them.

I am always here to help you so do reach out if there is something I can do to make your lives slightly easier. Just to remind you, I'll have a latte with coconut milk and a sprinkle of cinnamon and if you want to spoil me even more, I’ll have a lemon poppyseed muffin.

Keep going strong, parents! You can do this!

I’ll catch you later!

E x