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Obsessions

NAS77763

Hiya,

My son, who is five years old, has recently begun a new obsession: needing to know the time. When he is in bed and wakes up, he has to know the time and then he will only attempt to settle back down when it is at an o'clock. He also has to constantly pause TV programmes so he can see how long is left and needs to see the time go through 0 (i.e. 3:23 he will wait until 3:00) He is also asking teachers at school constantly what the time is and how long is left of playtime (which is having an impact on his time to learn how to socially interact with children.

I wondered if anybody else has experienced this and thoughts on where this has stemmed from and ultimately, what strategies have worked to harness this trait but ensure it doesn't have a negative impact i.e. social interaction.

Thanks

  • Time is a grounding mechanism. The obsession with it is completely natural for autistic children who can be much more connected or aware of the Natural Laws of Physics or Nature around them, just too young to possess the language, tools and disciplines to grasp what they're sensing and attempting to reason with and calculate. This can create an anxiety or excitement (same thing, really) and a drive / passion to contain or control this thing. We have history to turn to: Explorers and Scientists who were not content to just let a thing go. And now we have computers and rockets but still no time travel.

    I would dig into it: How time was discovered. Maybe buy a sundial. Buy a clock you can build together. Understand that being hyper-sensory, the impact of a thing is intense emotionally. We have difficulty dulling these senses. 

    I also have Alice in Wonderland Syndrome, which is when the imagination warps space/time. It's been suggested its a migraine (which is short form for we don't know what causes it). But I think it's a hyper-awareness sensing things well beyond my ability to understand them. 

    The more you allow and help him shape understanding, the less intense it will eventually be. Once knowledge is more solidified, it becomes ground to build on.