Other kids can get John to do things.  Important, powerful, stretching, social, scary things.  So I use that.

What you see here is a hot, scared, hesitant, sensory-averse kid (yellow shirt), doing something for the first time.  Out in the neuro-typical world, alongside other faster kids.  Because his team-mates said, “Come on, John.  Come with us.”

Sometimes John would say, “I think I will try that” to me, like it was his idea.   Sometimes, wordlessly.

So, find some good, kind kids with good, kind parents.  Explain, in short form.  (I tell them that John is scared, and that his tongue doesn’t work as fast as theirs.  I stick out my tongue, grab it with my fingers, and try to talk.   I ask them to do the same, and they get a real fast idea what expressive speech delay is.  Not scientifically accurate, but, hey…..)

And I then ask the kids to get John to come with them.

Some day, I will have to deal with stranger danger, but not today.  Today is about the archery range at scout camp.

I hope this works for you.   It is golden in John’s world.

Love those other kids.