Guest guest Posted June 29, 2006 Report Share Posted June 29, 2006 Theresa We have a program called Collectors over here in Australaia and a lot of these so called normal people collect all sorts of weird stuff. One man who has been a skate board champion collected skate boards and equipment, another fairly rational man was obsessed with collecting rear end indicators off old cars, another girl collected animal skeletons and the list went on. Some of the more fanatical I wondered if they didn't suffer from OCD or ASD as they were very obsessive about their collecting passion. So I wonder what is different about your son and the so-called NT collectors. As you say your son is learning a lot about the subject whilst he collects the stuff. Such passions also make it easier for family and friends to know what to give a gifts for birthdays and Christmas and could serve as a social activity later by joining the collecting club focused on his obsession. I may be AS I collect ducks, little rocking horses, tea spoons and at one time too many teddy bears until my husband got sick of bears everywhere. Then my collection obsession moves onto something else. Karnak disorderlybehavior <disorderlybehavior@...> wrote: > > Jake's obsessions change...it used to be muscle cars, at age 5 he was > reading HotRod magazine. For awhile it was Yughio cards, until he got > a deck that was counterfit, now they all suck. He is on his 2nd round > with Pokemon now. For a long time he was obsessed with gems....he > did'nt understand why he couldn't have a diamond or emerald for > Christmas, thank God he got over that one! For awhile it was > dinosaurs. Then there's dragon's, a new obsession that started about > a month ago, I can handle that one. At least with his obsessions > changing, he is researching and learning alot about different things. > > Theresa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 23, 2007 Report Share Posted October 23, 2007 I have found that it really does no good to try to stear tem away from their obsession. It is harmless. Making him dissemble them though just helps keep down the clutter. When my son was that age we got the Jump Start programs and he loved that. But then I got “ADAM the inside story” and that was his obsession for about a month. From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Tracey Sent: Tuesday, October 23, 2007 1:04 PM To: Subject: ( ) Obsessions This kind of makes sense to me... I've been contemplating whether or not to let my 6yo DS continue his obsession with computers. We have a real computer that he really doesn't have much interest in. What he likes to do is make his own computer(s). He'll find boxes, ropes, blocks, books and anything that might possible look like a computer part and assemble his own computers. He has 3 fake computers in his room, he makes one or two in his sister's room, one in the living room, and a fake computer up next to the real one. We are constantly making him disassemble the ones that aren't in his room, but should I just limit him to one fake computer? I know that sounds silly, but I feel like we're feeding his obsession, like you said... He also likes to draw them -- he's particularly fascinated with the mouses... Tracey __________________ " When you limit it, it is supposed to take some of the obsession out of it. Letting them go on and on is a self feeding problem - the more they go on, the more it satisfies their obsession so the more they go on and on. Plus, they won't be making a lot of friends if they can't learn how to talk to others. " ~Tracey __________________________________________________ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 23, 2007 Report Share Posted October 23, 2007 How can the " experts " say that 'lack of creative play and make believe play' is one of the defining aspects of ASD! To me these kids are little creative geniuses. Whether they are building something like these computers or obsessed with Japan...they are learning. In their own way, and yeah, it's not in the same way that " everybody else is learning. " But golly, they look at the world in such different ways with different perspectives. I love hearing these stories. I wonder what he would do with actual old computer or non-working one from recycle. May be a little young for some of the parts. Our son's particular obsession is Halloween/Haunted Houses. Last year DH got so tired of hearing about them in MARCH, that declared a moratoriun on DS speaking about them for " March, April, May, June! " There was a long silence and then my son asked in a small, non smart- alecky voice, " What about July? " Sue > What he likes to do is make his own computer(s). He'll find boxes, ropes, blocks, books and anything that might possible look like a computer part and assemble his own computers. > > > __________________ > > " When you limit it, it is supposed to take some of the obsession out of it. Letting them go on and on is a self feeding problem - the more they go on, the more it satisfies their obsession so the more they go on and on. Plus, they won't be making a lot of friends if they can't learn how to talk to others. " > > > > > ~Tracey > > > __________________________________________________ > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 23, 2007 Report Share Posted October 23, 2007 i agree about the creative aspect. i remember the doctor's checklist included a question about imaginative play. my daughter is very creative, draws beautifully, creates interesting stories, never runs short of flowery sentences describing how her clothes are uncomfortable. based on what i am reading here, i think they should replace " lack of creative play " with " lacks concern about personal hygiene " . regards, melody > > > What he likes to do is make his own computer(s). He'll find boxes, > ropes, blocks, books and anything that might possible look like a > computer part and assemble his own computers. > > > > > __________________ > > > > " When you limit it, it is supposed to take some of the obsession > out of it. Letting them go on and on is a self feeding problem - the > more they go on, the more it satisfies their obsession so the more > they go on and on. Plus, they won't be making a lot of friends if > they can't learn how to talk to others. " > > > > > > > > > > ~Tracey > > > > > > __________________________________________________ > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 23, 2007 Report Share Posted October 23, 2007 My kids HAVE learned alot playing video games. A lot of them are based on facts. They learned alot about the Roman Empire,Biblical facts.. all kinds of amazing knowledge! What about July? Oh my goodness, that is so funny and so aspie...darling... ( ) Re: Obsessions How can the "experts" say that 'lack of creative play and make believe play' is one of the defining aspects of ASD! To me these kids are little creative geniuses. Whether they are building something like these computers or obsessed with Japan...they are learning. In their own way, and yeah, it's not in the same way that "everybody else is learning." But golly, they look at the world in such different ways with different perspectives. I love hearing these stories.I wonder what he would do with actual old computer or non-working one from recycle. May be a little young for some of the parts.Our son's particular obsession is Halloween/Haunted Houses. Last year DH got so tired of hearing about them in MARCH, that declared a moratoriun on DS speaking about them for "March, April, May, June!" There was a long silence and then my son asked in a small, non smart-alecky voice, "What about July?"Sue >What he likes to do is make his own computer(s). He'll find boxes, ropes, blocks, books and anything that might possible look like a computer part and assemble his own computers. > > > __________________> > "When you limit it, it is supposed to take some of the obsession out of it. Letting them go on and on is a self feeding problem - the more they go on, the more it satisfies their obsession so the more they go on and on. Plus, they won't be making a lot of friends if they can't learn how to talk to others."> > > > > ~Tracey > > > __________________________________________________> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 24, 2007 Report Share Posted October 24, 2007 Regarding obsessions: We met with our physician yesterday and reviewed some of the issues our son was having. One statement he made had a profound effect. He said "If it does not overly affect the running of the household, then don't sweat it". From time to time we may get frustrated with our son, not understand why he does things, why he shows interest in things, why there are so many this or that in his pocket (If I had a dollar for every Pokemon card that went through the washer), but the bottom line (he felt) was that the small quirks and issues were not effecting us, him, siblings, or peers, so why try to address it? Why "create" an issue if the impact is minimal to begin with, There are other conditions that *DO* affect the running of the household, and those need to be addressed (repeatedly giving the same direction over and over to no affect, very loud screeches when on the phone, no focus, lack of effection, etc) I guess the moral to the story is, if you can live with it, then why not let them do it. However, if peers make fun of him for that then that's perhaps another story. We recently had discussed with the doctor about our two boys sleeping together (they have seperate rooms). They always want to sleep together at night, but the fight like cats and dogs during the day. However, at night, it seems to be the time when they bond and have nice quiet time together. We wanted to raise them to be more independent but the Dr. stated that if they are OK with it, and it helps them bond, then why not? I guess we are wound up too tight? Just some thoughts... MS in NJ From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of ponjanoSent: Tuesday, October 23, 2007 4:23 PM Subject: Re: ( ) Obsessions My 6 yr old daughter has collections and draws all the time. I make her keep her collections contained to her room. It is just too disruptive to the rest of the house. I really feel that if the fake computers are annoying to other family members then he should keep them in his room.Aspergers can't rule the house and disrupt the non-sufferers. I would bet you wouldn't let your other child do this.>> I have found that it really does no good to try to stear tem away from their> obsession. It is harmless. Making him dissemble them though just helps> keep down the clutter. When my son was that age we got the Jump Start> programs and he loved that. But then I got "ADAM the inside story" and that> was his obsession for about a month.> > > > _____ > > From: > [mailto: ] On Behalf Of Tracey> Sent: Tuesday, October 23, 2007 1:04 PM> > Subject: ( ) Obsessions> > > > This kind of makes sense to me... I've been contemplating whether or not to> let my 6yo DS continue his obsession with computers. We have a real> computer that he really doesn't have much interest in. What he likes to do> is make his own computer(s). He'll find boxes, ropes, blocks, books and> anything that might possible look like a computer part and assemble his own> computers. He has 3 fake computers in his room, he makes one or two in his> sister's room, one in the living room, and a fake computer up next to the> real one. We are constantly making him disassemble the ones that aren't in> his room, but should I just limit him to one fake computer? I know that> sounds silly, but I feel like we're feeding his obsession, like you said...> > > > He also likes to draw them -- he's particularly fascinated with the> mouses...> > > > Tracey> > > > > > __________________> > > > "When you limit it, it is supposed to take some of the obsession out of it.> Letting them go on and on is a self feeding problem - the more they go on,> the more it satisfies their obsession so the more they go on and on. Plus,> they won't be making a lot of friends if they can't learn how to talk to> others."> > > > > > ~Tracey <http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/tsmileys2/40.gif> > > __________________________________________________> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 24, 2007 Report Share Posted October 24, 2007 Roxanna, this is a brilliant description of differentions in " creativity. " Perhaps we need to broaden our horizons as non- Apsies with exactly what defines creativity. Many people would find it difficult to work turtles into every subject, but sounds like he found a way. So interesting! By the way, I am a graphic and web designer and my JOB is to be different. To find a different look from everybody elses, to say something in a different way. Sue > > > > > What he likes to do is make his own computer(s). He'll find boxes, > > ropes, blocks, books and anything that might possible look like a > > computer part and assemble his own computers. > > > > > > > __________________ > > > > > > " When you limit it, it is supposed to take some of the > obsession > > out of it. Letting them go on and on is a self feeding problem - > the > > more they go on, the more it satisfies their obsession so the more > > they go on and on. Plus, they won't be making a lot of friends if > > they can't learn how to talk to others. " > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ~Tracey > > > > > > > > > __________________________________________________ > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.