An Examination of the Mind of Autistic Child and the Possibilities of Symbiosis in Integrated Early Childhood Education :

Building a Bridge between the "Object World" and "Human World" in the Mind of an Autistic Child

Abstract

This study analyzes the author's care of an autistic boy of 4-5 years old and examines the possibility of a symbiotic relationship in an integrated early childhood education. Apparently, the child lived in an "object world," where he felt comfortable with physical changes of objects without relating them to humans. The author attempted to live in his "object world" by using herself as an instrument for occurrences of physical changes of objects. It was observed that the child regarded the author as an indispensable "tool" for obtaining physical changes in his "object world." Thus he gradually learned to consider the intentions of others in activity contexts and gain a new ability which would serve as an important factor in the "human world" where people live best by cooperating together.