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What were you like as a child?

Pigtail

I'm curious to know what you were like as a child and whether a lot of us were similar in the way we acted. I know a lot of py were diagnosed a lot later, my diagnosis was early on but I'm still curious to know what you were like.

As a child I used to hate hugs and being touched. I used to scream and scream if my parents hugged me and I hated having to hold their hands when out walking.

I bit everything and everyone. I used to bite my parents, other people, myself, chair and table legs and my toys. I was eventually given soft chew toys to bite to protect my teeth.

I was sensitive to the sun and bright lights. If I went out and it was sunny I used to close my eyes and cover them with my hands. I also didn't like the flashing lights on Christmas trees and would do the same thing if I saw them.

I used to organise and stack my toys as neatly as I could. My mum said my room was the most organised and tidy room in the house.

I didn't make eye contact and I avoided other children if I could.

And that's what I was like as a child apparently. I was diagnosed at 4 yrs of age.

Parents

  • At home I would spend most of my time in my room alone, quietly reading. I loved to read factual things, like my dictionary and set of encyclopedia. I also liked Lego. I had a cuddly toy which I wouldn't be parted from. However I didn't do any imaginary play with it and I think I just liked the sensory aspect of the soft fur. If anyone tried to give me a doll I would show no interest whatsoever.

    I could not tolerate having my photo taken. Any early photos of me I am crying and/or disappearing out of the picture. I think it may have been a sensory issue due to the flash.

    When I started nursery school I encountered other children for the first time in my life. I thought they were like wild animals and could not understand why they did so much screaming and squealing in the playground. Playtimes were a complete nightmare for me and I would avoid going outside due to the overwhelming noise. If forced to it would result in a huge meltdown, behaviour for which I would be punished.

    School dinners were also a complete nightmare for me. I experienced complete sensory overload from the noise, the smells and the textures. The dinner ladies could not get me to eat anything and could not cope with my meltdowns. I was excluded from the school at lunch times and had to go home.

    I hated being hugged or touched. If my mum tried to hug me I would just stand there with my arms rigid by my sides. If anyone else tried to approach me it would result in a huge meltdown. My mum couldn't go out and leave me with anyone else, as I would scream the place down.

    At school I was useless at sports or games. I have dyspraxia and that made me extremely clumsy and uncoordinated. The only time I was popular in PE lessons was when I ran into the PE teacher and knocked her over!

    I too preferred to interact with adults, rather than children. I would go and visit several elderly neighbours and happily talk to them for hours about my special interest. I was obsessed with stamp collecting for most of my childhood.

    I was diagnosed aged 50.

Reply

  • At home I would spend most of my time in my room alone, quietly reading. I loved to read factual things, like my dictionary and set of encyclopedia. I also liked Lego. I had a cuddly toy which I wouldn't be parted from. However I didn't do any imaginary play with it and I think I just liked the sensory aspect of the soft fur. If anyone tried to give me a doll I would show no interest whatsoever.

    I could not tolerate having my photo taken. Any early photos of me I am crying and/or disappearing out of the picture. I think it may have been a sensory issue due to the flash.

    When I started nursery school I encountered other children for the first time in my life. I thought they were like wild animals and could not understand why they did so much screaming and squealing in the playground. Playtimes were a complete nightmare for me and I would avoid going outside due to the overwhelming noise. If forced to it would result in a huge meltdown, behaviour for which I would be punished.

    School dinners were also a complete nightmare for me. I experienced complete sensory overload from the noise, the smells and the textures. The dinner ladies could not get me to eat anything and could not cope with my meltdowns. I was excluded from the school at lunch times and had to go home.

    I hated being hugged or touched. If my mum tried to hug me I would just stand there with my arms rigid by my sides. If anyone else tried to approach me it would result in a huge meltdown. My mum couldn't go out and leave me with anyone else, as I would scream the place down.

    At school I was useless at sports or games. I have dyspraxia and that made me extremely clumsy and uncoordinated. The only time I was popular in PE lessons was when I ran into the PE teacher and knocked her over!

    I too preferred to interact with adults, rather than children. I would go and visit several elderly neighbours and happily talk to them for hours about my special interest. I was obsessed with stamp collecting for most of my childhood.

    I was diagnosed aged 50.

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