my 6 year olds obsession with dnosaurs and dragons (toothless)

My 6 year old little princess is OBSESSED with dinosaurs since the day she could talk! I love listening to her talking about them, she can tell you literally anything! All the different names of them, whether they are carnivours or plant eaters, their characteristics, EVERYTHING! She has a massive box of dinosaurs which she will line up in order of 'breed' from mummys to babies too! And the way she talks about them with so much passion is just so lovely to listen to!! Has anyone else got this obsession??

And the new one is Toothless from How to Train Your Dragon! She has all the toys and the teddies, even the build a bear toothless as her comfort (she twiddles the tag too when nervous/tired). She tells me (in a very matter of fact voice) that dinosaurs and dragons are not alive anymore and so she likes reptiles, as they are the closest thing to them now.

After being to a psycyatrist and social comms doctor i was advised that I should limit her conversations about her obsessions to a few times a day, in a way it is sad, because i love it as her personality comes out and she shows so much confidence with the fact she knows so much, but on the other hand i understand it is an obsession and a behaviour she has to reduce in order to help with her social anxiety and broaden her communication skills.

Parents
  • I used my child's special interest to develop other things.

    E.g. maths - do a homework worksheet - numberbonds to 10 - total meltdown over the thought of doing it.

    add in the treasured box of cars.

     I have 4 cars, you have 6 cars; how many altogether -  suddenly prepared to count them and dd the worksheet.

    Again not a professional - am a mummy to a child with ASD and have ASD myself - if a special interest can be used to complete essential tasks I think it is a good thing.

    Taking away my special interests would make me really sad. I can see why people say restrict it  as trying to get the child engaged with more things - but I feel life is so hard trying to fit in anyway - surely in free time it is nice to be engaged with special interests and I really believe these can be used to teach and introduce other things.  

    Think how much their reading will come on with dinosaur books. If they are not interested in early readers they will never look at them. But books about dinosaurs, bet they will be keen to learn. all lthe maths skills in learning to bake - no interest intially in the idea perhaps - but bet they would if you made dinosaur shaped cookies.

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  • I used my child's special interest to develop other things.

    E.g. maths - do a homework worksheet - numberbonds to 10 - total meltdown over the thought of doing it.

    add in the treasured box of cars.

     I have 4 cars, you have 6 cars; how many altogether -  suddenly prepared to count them and dd the worksheet.

    Again not a professional - am a mummy to a child with ASD and have ASD myself - if a special interest can be used to complete essential tasks I think it is a good thing.

    Taking away my special interests would make me really sad. I can see why people say restrict it  as trying to get the child engaged with more things - but I feel life is so hard trying to fit in anyway - surely in free time it is nice to be engaged with special interests and I really believe these can be used to teach and introduce other things.  

    Think how much their reading will come on with dinosaur books. If they are not interested in early readers they will never look at them. But books about dinosaurs, bet they will be keen to learn. all lthe maths skills in learning to bake - no interest intially in the idea perhaps - but bet they would if you made dinosaur shaped cookies.

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