Drew started a new social-skills class today. It's sort of an essential part of his success as a person with Asperger's. Much to my joy, there's a parent observation room with a one-way mirror.
Topics covered in today's class were eye contact and facial expressions. The instructors would define the topic, demonstrate it, then have the children take turns demonstrating.
When it came to facial expressions, the first instructor scrunched up her face, narrowed her brow and turned down her mouth. The second instructor asked the children what expression she was making. One boy raised his hand. "Angry," he said. "That's right," said the instructor. They then talked about how her eyebrows looked, her nose, her mouth, etc. The second instructor then did her impression of a bored facial expression, adding folding arms as an added clue.
When it was Drew's turn to make a facial expression for the group to guess, he first tried to copy the bored expression as that's his favorite way to be these days. When told he'd need to do an expression that hadn't already been done, he tried again. His back was to the one-way mirror, so I couldn't see his face. But, from behind, I could see him straighten up his body, turn his face straight ahead and just sit still.
The first instructor said, "Hmm. I'm not sure. Why don't you show it to second instructor." Drew turned, assumed the same position and the second instructor said, in her most animated voice, "Drew, I don't think I know that one. What is it?"
Drew relaxed his posture and proudly stated, "Vacant."
Topics covered in today's class were eye contact and facial expressions. The instructors would define the topic, demonstrate it, then have the children take turns demonstrating.
When it came to facial expressions, the first instructor scrunched up her face, narrowed her brow and turned down her mouth. The second instructor asked the children what expression she was making. One boy raised his hand. "Angry," he said. "That's right," said the instructor. They then talked about how her eyebrows looked, her nose, her mouth, etc. The second instructor then did her impression of a bored facial expression, adding folding arms as an added clue.
When it was Drew's turn to make a facial expression for the group to guess, he first tried to copy the bored expression as that's his favorite way to be these days. When told he'd need to do an expression that hadn't already been done, he tried again. His back was to the one-way mirror, so I couldn't see his face. But, from behind, I could see him straighten up his body, turn his face straight ahead and just sit still.
The first instructor said, "Hmm. I'm not sure. Why don't you show it to second instructor." Drew turned, assumed the same position and the second instructor said, in her most animated voice, "Drew, I don't think I know that one. What is it?"
Drew relaxed his posture and proudly stated, "Vacant."
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