Situation:

My 12 year old (they/them) is recovering from autistic burnout – ASD level 1, persistent drive for autonomy (PDA) profile. They will be doing tutoring at home rather than attending school in person this year. They struggle with peer relationships but desperately want someone who isn’t a parent to hang out with. We are seeking a “hang out buddy” to, well, hang out with them for several hours a week.

To be successful, you will be:

• Happy to follow directions from a 12 year old, even if that means running around the house in a bathing suit singing the lyrics “I am an idiot, bum bum bum” over and over again
• Willing to jump on a trampoline and be taught how to do flips from said 12 year old
• Play video games and lose gracefully
• Willing to learn about the PDA autism profile

Bonus points if you:

• Know how to use blender or animation software
• Play any kind of musical instrument
• Use Final Cut Pro
• Have a YouTube presence and are interested in having a 12 year old edit videos for you

We live in Concord, MA (30 min drive from Tufts). Our schedule is flexible, but ideally someone would come hang out for 3-4 hours twice a week, weekdays, during the day. Pay is $20-$25 per hour.

Please email ejfife@gmail.com with questions or interest.