One mother from New York, Sarah Thompson, recently shared the remarkable impact this game has had on her son, Jamie, who was diagnosed with hyperlexia and autism at the age of two. Since starting to play Pokémon Go, Jamie has shown some unexpected and wonderful behaviors.
“I finally introduced Jamie to Pokémon Go last night, and I can’t believe how incredible it is!” Thompson wrote. “After catching his first Pokémon at a local café, he was absolutely thrilled. He dashed outside to catch more, and another boy noticed him and instantly recognized what he was doing. They had an immediate connection.”
Thompson explained to KidSpot, “He will make eye contact with certain people he feels comfortable around, but with strangers? Very rarely. However, when he’s playing Pokémon Go, it seems that all of his usual boundaries disappear.”
Not only has the game helped Jamie become more social, but it has also encouraged him to break away from his typically rigid routines. A family friend mentioned that there was a lot of Pokémon activity near the playground, prompting Jamie to request a visit. “He NEVER wants to go to the playground at night because it disrupts his routine,” Thompson noted in her post. “Normally, he is incredibly strict about his schedule. But last night? He was excited to do something different, and we were stunned!”
When they arrived at the playground, Jamie immediately began interacting with other children. “He was actually engaging with them! I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry,” his mother shared. “There were adults hunting Pokémon too, and these strangers were offering him tips like, ‘There’s one just around that corner, buddy! Go get it!’ He would run off giggling to catch it and even looked up to say ‘THANK YOU!’ before dashing away! It was unbelievable!”
Since starting to play, Jamie has even become more outgoing during everyday situations. Thompson recounted an instance where he spoke to their pharmacist for the first time about his new favorite game. “The pharmacist leaned in and whispered, ‘That is the most he has ever said to me… ever! And I’ve known him since he was a baby’,” she said.
While there have been numerous complaints about Pokémon Go since its release, this story highlights the positive effects it can have. “My autistic child is socializing, engaging with people, smiling, communicating, and participating in conversations with total strangers. He’s even making eye contact sometimes! This is just AMAZING.”
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In summary, Pokémon Go has provided an unexpected yet transformative social avenue for children with autism, allowing them to connect with others in a unique and joyful way.