S Any parents out there with a child with asperger's or any form of autism?

Question

Any parents out there with a child with asperger's or any form of autism?
Is your's OBSESSED with trains as well? Especially thomas? Why are trains such a comman obsession with children in the autistic spectrum??

While I do appreciate everyone opinions this question is really directed towards parents of autistic children.

Answer 1

My 6 year old son is autistic. Yes, the train obsession is all-consuming! Thomas is obviously a favourite (the videos), but also watching real trains, travelling on them, Brio train tracks (particularly tunnels, bridges, signals).

When he gets a bit older, we plan to start a Hornby collection for him, which we can set up in the attic or something.

A theory about the reason why trains are such an obsession with autism is that they are very predictable. They run along a track, they never deviate from it (unlike cars, or planes). They use a fixed clear track which is never going to change, and they keep a fixed speed. This makes them 'safe'. Autistic people are afraid of change and unpredictability.

My son is also obsessed with lifts/elevators, which, if you think about it, are just as predictable. They go up and down, open shut doors, etc.

You just have to embrace the obsession. Try for your child, if you haven't already, the "driver's eye view" train videos (ebay). My son adores them.

Answer 2

I do not have a child with Autism, but I used to know a little boy with Autism. He was a great kid, and he plays the clarinet now. I also know a woman with Autism who is absolutely brilliant. I realize this doesn't really help with what you were asking for, but I thought it might give your mom some hope for the future.

Answer 3

My cousin's son, who has autism, is also obsessed with Thomas. If it wasn't Thomas it would be something else. We hardly had the TV on when I was young and my brother (who has severe Aspergers as well as other problems) was obsessed with large spoons and bottlecaps. I think the obsession ended when he was about 9 or 10, but he moved on to other things.

Obsession with certain objects and OCD is associated with the disorder.

Answer 4

My daughter has AS. She is older now, but she never got obsessed with trains (maybe a girl is not exposed to them as much). She does like orderly, logical and predictable things. She likes schedules (the TV guide), maps and has recently gotten into manuals. She is studying to be an computer engineer/math major. Seems trains fit into that "orderly & predictable" thing they like. When she was smaller, she never liked dolls or pretend. I wish I had Thomas when she was little. I would have encouraged the affection.

Answer 5

Yes, LOL... though mine is a Blue's Clues fan, Thomas the train is a heavy favorite of many of his little autistic friends. His buddy Justin has a toy train in his hand at all times.... Why is that? What is it about Thomas?

Answer 6

I'm the aunt, not the mother, but I work regularly with my niece & make eduactional items for her.

My niece is not facinated with trains. She loves any toy of device which makes music or "speaks."

I discovered a quick way to keep her entertained when shopping with her would be to call my bank's autiomated system & let her sit & listen to the computers voice listing all my check #s, amounts & dates.

I bought a "talking" photo album & put pictures of words or names I wanted her to learn. She turns the pages, punches a button & hears the book say "green beans - Arianna loves green beans." when she uses these books regularly, she can say the words.

You don't know how lucky you are that your child speaks. (I assume he has Asperger's)

Answer 7

Neither of my two children in the spectrum care for trains at all.

Answer 8

my daughter has aspergers, and she is actually not into trains but is very obsessed with dinosaurs. granted she likes trains, but they are not her obsession.