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Community bible study and ASD child


Mtngrace
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I have been doing a two hour CBS study once a week. My daughter has high functioning autism and she is 9. I also have a 7 yr old son. Both my kids dread and hate the bible study saying they sit and talk to much. They are very visual and hands on kids. I am torn on what I should do because I think it's a good program I am not thrilled with how the women's group never has time to get deep with each other in the small amount of time that we have. I really thought it would be a great social time for the kids but they hate it so much it's making them not even want to talk about God. The teachers have been great at taking them out of class and walk around when they are bored but since my daughters recent ASD diagnosis I am trying to keep everything that we do beneficial to her social skills. I am not sure what to do.

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Your dd's spiritual development is going to be on a different trajectory too.  Spiritual discussions are usually very abstract, filled with metaphors.  She might do better in a setting that is more ready to engage with her.  I wouldn't turn her off to spiritual things by putting her in a place she's not ready to participate in, not ready to understand.  

 

Does she already sit in church?  If she goes on Sunday and gets that practice, then that would seem like enough for that skill.  If you *don't* go to CBS, can you get your needs met another way?  

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It's late, but I'll just quickly say that I wouldn't assume the thing she's saying is really what's going on.  Like just to say boring, well that's really generic.  It might be, or it might be that some social thinking deficits are making it hard for her to connect.  You might observe the class a bit to see for yourself what's going on.  

 

She might respond well to classes that have a component that she's strong in.  Does she respond well to structure, clear expectations, competition?  What happens in a class that is discussion-based?  (I'm assuming that doesn't go well, lol, but I'm asking.)  I don't think it has to be entertaining, but figure out what types of things she does well with. When I was a kid, we had class booklets with daily/weekly assignments, so that was good structure.  They would give little prizes and earn points for consistency with things.  

Edited by OhElizabeth
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The have a weekly bible study that they do which is very deep and hard for even me to understand it at times. I was kind of surprised at how non kid friendly the curriculum is. She has a best friend in the class. They do a craft and win a prize for completing the study.

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Is this an international Bible study that is the same format across the country and around the world, by chance? I have initials, but I don't want to give anyone a bad impression of the program--it's just that I think it's not everyone's cup of tea, and that's okay. I am sorry though that it's not the fit you were looking for. 

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You can google religion and autism, and you'll find this is a common complaint, that church is made too feeling-based, too metaphorical.  You could get something really concrete and do it with her yourself.  Greenleaf, materials from AIG (they just put out a new curriculum for free I think, the link is in my browser, haven't tried it yet), etc. I'm always looking for things that are concrete.

 

Have you done much with scripture memory?  She might be killer at scripture memory.  SMF (Scripture Memory Fellowship) has materials and prizes.  Or get a Sunday School curriculum that would seem to fit her and do it with her.

 

Positive Action For Christ: Home  This place has solid materials, and they're going to be pretty concrete. I have the catalog beside my bed, because it was on the list of options for my ds.

 

Why Answers Bible Curriculum? | Answers in Genesis  They have a new curriculum and I'm thinking it was free.  I just haven't looked into it yet.  I like AIG, some don't.  

 

Like I said though, I'm looking for things where they say what they mean.  No metaphor, no wishy washy focus on feelings, no telling people to read verses and INFER what they mean.  Inferences, metaphors, these just aren't going to go well.  Nice, straight, systematic theology, saying what you mean, that will go over better.  Make things clear that aren't clear.  Don't push for results.  

 

Spiritual things rely on perspective-taking, and perspective-taking is what is weak in autism.  So they understand something as "sin" because they care what God thinks.  Maybe she doesn't yet care what God thinks!  Maybe she doesn't yet care what ANYBODY thinks!  But that doesn't mean she can't learn good things, true things, things that will plant seeds to grow *later* into more mature faith.  There's childlike faith.  To me, it's good enough that my ds believes God exists, believes God is good, believes God gives him good things and that we should thank Him, kwim?  Like punch back your developmental expectations 3-4 years to what you would expect a dc much younger to be feeling/thinking about God, and bump up their intellectual capabilities, and then you see why it's such a contrast.  

 

Whatever, just my opinion/experience being in it.  

Edited by OhElizabeth
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