My son is Autistic and has been in a developmentally delayed class for a few years now. I was excited when I found out that we were was finally going to be able to have the opportunity to be around others that understand. I thought that others in this situation branched out and showed support. Hardly the case... Parents in the class keep to themselves and aren't really social? For 3 years I have invited around 20 kids each time for my sons birthday party and have had very little success. One year no one came. We have also joined a group for Autistic children. They don't even communicate with each other!!??... They get together once a month and that's it.
With that being said, my son is showing a lot of social progress. It's a happy time and yet a very sad one for us.My husband and I are both military and have finally settled in a home far from our family. Our son literally has no one to play with. He tries to play with other kids, but due to his lack of social skills other children kinda look at him like he's a freak. It saddens me. Well, I would like to arrange a play-date with the other kids in his classroom because I'm sure that some of the other kids/parents have experienced this. This is a very important opportunity for both my son and I. In past circumstances, I haven't done so well with having a good turnout to our events. I want to make sure that I schedule it a a comfortable time and place. I don't have the phone numbers, e-mail or addresses of the other parents in class. So I will have to send invitations through his teachers. Can anyone please give me advice on how to make a successful play-date? Thank you and have a good day!|||Perhaps try just one person at a time not an event. You see them in the playground? If it is a party sometimes people don't think they need to be there as others will turn up. If it is just an afterschool invite to one person it might be better.|||"Parents in the class keep to themselves and aren't really social? For 3 years I have invited around 20 kids each time for my sons birthday party and have had very little success."
I think most people would find that an odd invitation, and be uncomfortable about attending the birthday party of a child who was largely unknown to them. Does your kid _want_ twenty kids at his birthday party...? That is overwhelming for a small tot.
How old is your child?
This idea to arrange a playdate with other kids in his class whose families you are not already acquainted with is...unusual, and I think, again, you will find the same "haven't done so well with having a good turnout to our events" problem as this is just not what most people do on the weekends, ferry their kids to the homes of strangers.
I think you want to concentrate on building a social network through more conventional channels. Take your kid to lessons -- swimming? Do you enjoy singing, can you volunteer for community theatre or sing in a church? Have you checked Facebook for a local parents' group on there, have you checked out existing playgroups? Check library and community centre bulletin boards for information on ditto...
Apart from other people being unlikely to come to your house -- forcing kids to play together is not going to benefit your son. Try reaching out to the families in the autistic group you've joined; at the end, just say "Hey, does anybody want to do a playgroup at my place/the McDonald's/wherever? Give me your e-mail..." Using teachers as invitation-senders to unknown parties is really not likely to go over well with anyone.
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