Birthday Party Fun

Birthday parties are never very fun for CJ - lots of people (grown ups and children), noise (over stimulation), and (for CJ) the dreaded happy birthday song. Yesterday we went to our friend S's birthday party and...it was a success for CJ!!!! I did a birthday social story with him. Friday afternoon, CJ and I sat at the computer and wrote it together - he choose pictures and made sure I had his name on every page. Then he helped me staple it, and we read it many times prior to going to the party. It worked!! He didn't yell, hit, have an outburst. Of course, he played only with me and when he talked to people it was adults not children but....baby steps:) When he needed a break from the crowd - he told me and we stood a few feet away when happy birthday was sang. Once the song was over, he was ready to go...but he did a great job!!!