Goldilocks befriended two children who just moved to the neighborhood!

That may not sound like much, but for a boy with autism, it's a big deal! He is thirteen, and wants to have friends, but doesn't know how to make friends or understand how friendship works. We've had trouble with neighborhood bullies taking advantage of him, and he would just accept it because he was so desperate for friendship. (Click the Label "the kids down the street" if you haven't read all that story before.)

He doesn't usually understand enough of what older kids are doing to participate, but younger kids sometimes find him intimidating because he's bigger than they are, and don't know what to make of him because he's different.

A family with a girl and a boy, about ten and eight, I'd guess, moved in next door a few weeks ago. They haven't been home much, and until recently, kept their distance. GL saw them playing in the yard, went out and introduced himself, and asked if he could play! They accepted, and BB joined them a bit later. The four of them had an enjoyable game of tag.

Taking the initiative, approaching a potential playmate, following social conventions, joining in, and playing a game without adult supervision or assistance--for him any one of these would be an accomplishment, but doing all of them in one afternoon integrated into one activity is huge!