"If the world seems cold to you, kindle fires to warm it....."

Obsessions and Repetitive Behaviour are other types of behaviour that ASD children display. the information below tries to explain what these are and why these are important to our children.

Obsessions and repetitive behaviour intermingle with each other ... of course these can be separate but sometimes the repetitive behaviour can become an obsession.

This can be watching the same video over and over and over again ...... Collecting pieces of paper/ stones/ shoelaces /seashells/pictures of animals/ Logo’s/ Vehicles/ Specific characters i.e  Pokemon/ Beyblades/Thomas the Tank Engine/ Spiderman etc/ Hand-flapping/ Spinning/  This is to an extent which cannot be classified as "ordinary" it can get to the stage that if they see something which is their obsession they have to have it and if they do not it often results in a major tantrum ........ dinosaurs and Thomas the Tank engine are the most popular obsessions with ASD children but, this can be anything for instance our son is absolutely obsessed with the Moto GP Star Valentino Rossi and has to watch every race and collect everything to do with him ( and I mean EVERYTHING!!!) This is not just a passing interest and he is absolutely inconsolable if Vale loses (screaming and crying and throwing himself on the floor and banging his head on the floor).

Children with ASD often have little rituals they need to do some need to have their shoelaces tied in double bows, some have to have their socks rolled down, some have to spin around before eating ..... I think you get the picture!!! This is not because they want to "wind you up" it is something they need to do to make themselves feel calmer/ more able to cope/prepare themselves for something.  ASD children demand consistency in their environment. Many insist on eating the same foods, at the same time, sitting at precisely the same place at the table every day. They may get  slightly angry if an ornament has been moved, or extremely furious if  one of their toys have been moved even slightly. A minor change in their routine, like taking a different route to school, may be profoundly upsetting and upset them for the rest of the day.

The reason, I believe, that ASD children behave in this manner is so that they can "control" what is happening and to make life less frightening thus making the world not as complex and chaotic to them. "The autistic child is unable to bring order to his world. You must provide that order."  - Temple Grandin an able adult with autism. If your child has an obsession try to use it (if possible) in an educational way , because if your child is already really interested in a subject they will readily listen and this can help when learning new skills.

 

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