Larry was a seven-year-old boy who loved going to the park with his dog, Willy. Larry had a special way of seeing the world, and his parents called it his “Restricted and repetitive behaviors.” This meant that Larry had a hard time with change and preferred to do things in the same way every time. His parents and teachers had been working with him to help him understand and cope with his behaviors.
One sunny day, Larry and Willy arrived at the park, and Larry immediately noticed that the playground was different. The swings were in a different spot, and the slide was a different color. Larry’s heart started racing, and he could feel his anxiety rising. He wanted to turn around and go back home, but he didn’t want to disappoint Willy. So, he took a deep breath and walked towards the playground.
As they got closer, Larry noticed that there were a lot of children playing on the playground. He felt overwhelmed and didn’t know where to start. But then, he saw a little girl who was playing with a toy car on the ground. Larry loved cars, so he walked over to her and asked if he could play too. The girl smiled and handed Larry a car. Larry’s heart felt a little lighter, and he started playing with the girl and her friends.
They played for a while, but then the girl’s friends wanted to go on the swings. Larry felt a little anxious again, but he didn’t want to leave the girl. So, he asked if she wanted to go on the swings with him. The girl smiled and said yes. Larry felt a surge of happiness and excitement. He had never made a new friend before, and it felt amazing.
As they swung back and forth, Larry noticed that his anxiety had disappeared. He was having so much fun with his new friend that he didn’t even realize that he was doing something different than his usual routine. He felt proud of himself and his ability to try new things.
After a while, the girl’s mom called her over for a snack, and she had to leave. Larry felt a little sad, but he was also proud of himself for being brave and making a new friend. He and Willy continued exploring the park, and Larry found himself trying new things and enjoying himself without even realizing it.
As the sun began to set, Larry and Willy sat on a bench to rest. Larry’s parents walked over to them and noticed how happy and relaxed Larry looked. They asked him about his day, and Larry excitedly told them about his new friend and all the fun things he did at the park. His parents were so proud of him and his progress.
That night, as Larry got ready for bed, he thought about his day at the park. He realized that even though things were different, he still had a great time. He also thought about his new friend and how much fun they had together. Larry felt grateful for his parents and teachers who helped him understand and cope with his behaviors. He knew that he was capable of trying new things and making new friends, and he couldn’t wait to go back to the park and do it all again with Willy by his side.