Asperkids: An Insider's Guide to Loving, Understanding, and Teaching Children with Asperger's Syndrome

by Jennifer Cook O'Toole

As a parent, a teacher and an Aspie herself, Jennifer O'Toole provides the definitive insider's view of Asperger syndrome. She shows how to help children on the spectrum by understanding how they think and by exploiting their special interests to promote learning. Her strategies work because she thinks like the children that she teaches.


This exciting book is full of effective and fun ways of engaging with children with Asperger syndrome. Jennifer explains how theory of mind difficulties create the need for concrete forms of communication, and provides original methods to inspire imagination through sensorial experiences. In particular she reveals the untapped power of special interests, showing how to harness these interests to encourage academic, social and emotional growth.


Affirming that different doesn't mean defective, this book offers the insight and guidance that parents, educators, and other professionals need to connect with the Asperkids in their life and get them excited about learning.

Genres: Autistic Spectrum Disorder, Nonfiction, Parenting, Aspergers, Education, Psychology

192 pages, Paperback

First published May 15, 2012

Reviews

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed how this book focused on the positives for those with Asperger's and gave examples of how creativity can help these and other children who may not be typical succeed. I definitely think that this book has a broader audience than just those with Asperger's and I'd recommend it to any parent who has a child with a disability. That said, I wish the book went a little further with application of the techniques as the types of Aspies are as numerous as the stars and I sometimes struggled to figure out how to apply the concepts to the Aspies that I know. The main thing that I wish the book addressed though is how she plans to eventually help her children conform more to society. It is great that she is able to place her children in a setting where she can control the learning processes, etc. However, it is unclear to me how her daughter for example will handle a college lecture when she doesn't have someone relating it to Aphrodite for her. It is one thing if children are not ever expected to develop enough skills to attend college - Life skills learned in any manner are very valuable. However, many Aspies do attend college or be placed in situations where they don't have control over the learning medium and it concerns me that there is no explanation of how they will make that transition.

[Carina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thankyou.

There's a plethora of "what is ASD" books out there, covering the basics well. There's not a lot that go deep, that understand a good many readers are already well versed in the "easy stuff" and are searching beyond that. Asperkids is that deeper book, the one that brings new strategies to old hands, new understandings, clarifying and diplomatically translating the needs of all involved.

A considerable portion of the book is devoted to educational strategies (in particular, how Montessori approaches are worth exploring) as well as home life strategies. Another strength of this book is it's wonderful whole-child view, seeing difficulties as differences to be navigated, and strengths to be embraced and built upon. It struck me too, how wonderfully generous the author is with her empathy. Empathy for all, Asperkids, parents, teachers. The journey and challenges of each are gracefully acknowledged and discussed.

And finally, it has to be said, that this is an easy read. It's not a dry, jargon littered text, but a tale of journeys and ideas, sharing the funny and poignant.

[Sheila Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is full of great insights! The one thing I would caution parents (and other supporters of kids with autism) is don’t compare yourself to the author. She may seem perfect. She has found things that work for her kids. If you try things and they don’t work or if you don’t have the energy to put the same time and attention into creating materials and things that work for your kids as she does, that does NOT make you a bad parent!

Take from this book the insights that help, and remember you are good and enough. Your best and her best and your child’s best and her children’s best might be different. Simply remember to Do things with love and to accept the learning process for both yourself and your kids.

[Y T · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had a good read on this. I've got 3 aspies at home but yet at times I struggle to understand fully what they do and how they feel.

The author gives an insight into the aspies' world and strategies to work with the kids and build them up. What I love is her emphasis on giving the kids tools to set them up for success in life. I keep reminding myself of the same, that my role is to equip my kids with life skills (despite them being aspies) so that they grow up to be independent adults.

Love the author's tribute to her father at the end. Reminds me of my own dad at certain moments, when he comes alive in particular settings.

A great read for anyone looking for insights into an aspie world. 😊👍🏻

[Kit Hart · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very enlightening, as we have recently discovered that our 7yo has Aspergers. There were several "a-ha!" moments, it and opened my eyes to how my son views the world. O'Toole offered some wonderful suggestions and tools for dealing with difficult situations. However, her style was very off-putting, as it seemed to be some kind of brag book for everything she has done and how amazing her kids are. Also, her constant reference to "asperkid," "aspermom," "aspergirl" annoyed the crap out of me - just use their names! And instead of repeating story after story of how she is the Ultimate Mom, I wish she would have just given suggestions that would apply to any child with Aspergers.

[Charlie Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I give this a “MUST HAVE ON THE SHELF” (For any Neurodiverse person, parent or friend of someone Neurodiverse)

Loved this book. It has reinvigorated my spirits to help educate my son with ASD. It is also a very heart warming and inspiring to see the author manifest her own destiny by trusting her gut, doing things on her terms by educating her kids and not succumbing to, or relying on, a filter-like societal system to raise her children.

I took away a lot of ideas from this book. Even if this book helps just one person with Aspergers and how to cope with educating such people, then you can only give this book 5 stars.

[Lucretia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

This book is ostensibly about how she educated her three aspie children but even if that doesn't sound relevant the insights into thought patterns and anecdotes in this book are excellent. Occasionally I skimmed a page or two of specific education details but most of the book was extremely useful. I feel like I understand so much better now, her books are what I've been looking for to accompany the Attwood Complete Guide, to translate the facts into real world behaviours.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actually, 4.5 stars. I'll be honest - I started this book months ago and put it down because I couldn't get into it. The author's message seemed to be lost among SOOOO many details. I tried again this week, and this book is full of information! Of course the book contains details - the author herself has Asperger's! It just took me several months of researching autism to understand (and appreciate) the author's voice. I HIGHLY recommend this book for anyone parenting or working with a child with Asperger's - it provides such valuable perspective.

[Ruth Clemence · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really valued reading this book written by a mother with Aspergers who also has children with Aspergers. I found it especially helpful that she home educated her children and shared some of what helped her children to engage with learning.

It's definitely a helpful viewpoint written by someone who understands firsthand what it is like to walk and live out the joyful, yet equally challenging road of being an additional needs family.

[Ana · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. Dropped it. Didn't resonate with what I think many aspie kids experience. Also, the author come across as oddly self-satisfied at times and mentions one too many times, in my opinion, that she and her husband are attractive. (Ha ha! We get it.) Maybe she feels she has to fight stereotypes, but it just odd.

[Amy K · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish there were more stars available. I loved this book, and I will be asking anyone connected to my children to read it.

[Scott · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF

[Annie Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

So helpful for me and my husband and our kids. I identified so much with this.

[TYJC · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the most easy to understand way I've ever heard Asperger's described. And the way she describes it makes the world of a person with Asperger's sound so fun and rewarding - because it is! But they happen to live in a world that favors what's called a "neurotypical." People with Asperger's Syndrome have a place in the world and the more people who know about their greatness of their minds, the more they can thrive and help the world to thrive as well.

[Rochelle]

I can't get though this book. I've had it for about 2 months and I'm 20% through. I may pick it back up in the future but I really just don't like her style of writing.

Regarding not explaining things that they know (showing their work.) They just assume the knowledge in their head is obvious to everyone. It's not easy to delineate what they know versus what everyone else knows.

"...skills most people pick up without thinking must be explicated to us or acquired by us through thorough almost academic means....Which is exactly how Aspies learn. That is to say that we have to come to understand the world through rules, logic, and cause and effect. After watching social patterns over and over again, Aspies can learn to intellectualize, break down, and then memorize behaviors that neurotypical folk do instinctively. And, of course, put us in a new scenario where one or two details change, and our whoe system has to be overhauled. Either way, depending upon ones "acting" skills, the Aspie-trying-to-pass may come across as plausibly eccentric, fly under the radar, or totally mess up and seem awkward, stiff, and insincere" p.25

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most practical, empowering, insightful and friendly book on Aspergers I've read. Oh how I wish I had not wasted the money I did on Asper Girls and Aspergirls. This book is right up there with Temple Grandin's books. Like peeling back the layers of an onion, O'Toole deftly shows us what aspies see when they look in the mirror, what they want to see and what they need to get there. This book is loaded with great ideas and insight and it has truly inspired me to make some small changes that will make big differences in how we as a family can probably celebrate our aspie gifting.

[Finnella Flanagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is now my favorite introductory book for Aspergers. It's well written and should be easy to understand by readers new to Asperkids. I ran into the author in a used book store shortly before the book was published, and she recommended that I read it. It was good advice.

My only regret is that Ms. O'Toole has younger children who haven't reached their teens yet. (My Aspie just turned 14.) Nevertheless, the book was well worth reading and gave me new ideas for teaching my Asperkid.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is well-written, insightful and empowering. Jennifer 's unique perspective and thoughtful/creative ideas make it a must-read for anyone interested in effectively communicating with (and teaching) kids on the spectrum.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first book read on my sons Asperger's journey. It was very informative and written at a level that I understood. It is written by an Aspie who is also the wife and mother of Aspie's. Great views all the way around.

[Benita · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started reading this at a client's suggestion. I'm so grateful for her suggestion. Her ability to share her inside experience, successes and failures is giving me such an insight as a a coach, teacher and mother. I highly recommend this book to anyone who works with children!

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book! A must read for parents of precious spectrum kids

[Becca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Asperkids was very helpful in explaining how people with Asperger's Syndrome think and reframing it in a positive way.

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

good book, insightful

[Abraham Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

nice book about kids with aspurgers syndrome!

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

very easy to read. has a lot of great insights to Asperger's Snydrome as well as endless suggestions to utilize. very positive and resourceful book

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fabulous compassionate take on raising Aspie kids.

[Michele Herrera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative and helpful in making sense of our recently diagnosed "Aspie".

[Melissa]

Found that it was easy to read but didn't apply to the person I thought it might. Helpful none the less.

[Christie Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing to finally have insight into the inner workings of an Aspie's mind from someone with firsthand knowledge. Took tons of notes!