April Fool’s Day can be quite a confusing holiday for kids with Asperger’s Syndrome. The very nature of the celebration is to breech the social protocol they are already struggling to understand. It’s a fine line for kids who get caught up on technicalities to try to distinguish between pranks performed on April 1st and the bullying they are warned to be wary of the other 364 days of the year. However, I’ve found that helping my Aspie son learn how to dish it as well as take it has been more rewarding than shutting him off to the whole experience.
Pulling a prank on April Fool’s Day is a lesson in empathy for Aspie kids. It’s easy for them to get frustrated or confused if they only experience the observance as a target. Planning a creative prank and then effectively implementing it lets them know how it feels to be the prank-er instead of just the prank-ee. Offering an insight into why other kids are pulling pranks helps them understand pranks on April Fool’s Day are not meant to be taken as personal attack, but are an effort to include them in a celebration observed by the community.
Because it’s pretty hard to prank yourself, there is no point in celebrating April Fool’s Day alone. It is a social holiday so encouraging kids to participate, even if it’s pulling just one prank, shows them it’s ok to get a little silly and join in cultural experiences no matter how impractical they may appear. It might take a couple of attempts before they understand pranking someone doesn’t mean just annoying them but it’s an opportunity to show off how clever they can be which makes most Aspies I’ve me thrive.
Need some inspiration? Here are 4 practical ideas for Aspie prankstes to pull on their families this April Fool’s Day. They all pass my son’s “comfort level” test, meaning he would feel comfortable doing them because they are not meant to hurt any ones feelings and they don’t do any physical damage to people, places or things.
- Say what? – Make eye contact with your sister from across the room. When you know she is looking whisper the words, “I love juice.” She won’t be able to hear you but reading your lips it will look like you are saying, “I love you!”
- Half Baked – Use a brown marker to write the letter “E” all over a piece of paper. Place the paper in a metal baking tin and cover with aluminum foil. Tell your mom you made brownies and try not to laugh too hard when she discover the brown E’s you left for her aren’t what she expected.
- Sneaky Feet – While no one is looking, place a 12 inch ruler inside your dad’s shoe. When he goes to put it on say, “Stop! There’s already a foot in there!”
- Play Pals – Cut the letter “U” out of construction paper and slide it in the cover of a book. Tell your brother, “I don’t feel like reading. I want to play with you all day.” Then pull the paper U out of the book and walk away playing with it.
This are just a few suggestions to get you started. Let us know in the comments below what wonderful pranks you pull off this April Fool’s Day!
