How to Deal with your Child’s Opsessive Interests

Nadia Shanab | autism
20 Mar 2014

What should you do if your child is obsessed with a single subject and keeps talking about it all the time?

Don’t try to stop her/him from talking about his special interest as a matter of principle. However, you can teach your child some rules to hold a conversation. Tell your child that if she/he wants to have friends there are some rules that need to be followed.

For example

1- Start the conversation by asking questions like:

How are you doing?

Do you have plans for this weekend?

How was your vacation?

Where do you go shopping?

What is your favorite sports game?

Have you seen the movie xyz?

You may make a very long list of all the possible question your child can use to start and hold a conversation with others.

2- Tell your child that at the end of the conversation she or he may talk about her/his special interest for a certain amount of time, let’s say five minutes.

3- Teach your child that a conversation is like a turntaking-game. She or he needs to wait for the other person to finish her thought without interruption.

4- Explain to your child that everyone is different, and we all have different special interests. It is okay not to have the same interest as her/him, the same way we look and sound different.

In the beginning you may need to practice with your child the art of asking questions and listening to the answers by using a timer. Additonally, taking turns -like board games- is another way to acquire this skill.

Tip

Dismiss the idea of stopping your child from talking about her special interests. Instead, train her to moderately share it with others.

This suggestion is based on an article I’ve read in the Autism Asperger’s Magazine issue March/April 2014 written by: Jed Baker.

nadia shanab