to think DD plays in an unusual way?

[LissaLoves]

DD has just turned 4. She is obsessed with characters from a particular tv show and has toy figures of them. Since she got them five or so months ago, she's played with them every single day and they go everywhere with her. Sometimes she'll play solidly with them for three hours before having to be encouraged to break for refreshments or the toilet.

If I suggest or set something up like playing with sand or water, drawing, messy play and so on she will always have to involve her figures. She will ask to leave days out to go home to play with them. She repeats the same scenarios time and time again.

When she was two she was obsessed with a different tv show and would play with the figures from it for hours at a time. Her cousins of similar ages seem far less intense and 'general' in their play. Aibu to think she plays in an unusual way or do your dc have similar obsessions/levels of concentration?

[EarthboundMisfit]

Completely normal in my experience.

[ollieplimsoles]

I can remember playing this way myself op, I would be obsessed with a particular thing, usually from the television and I would play the same game over and over.

She nay just be a child who enjoys repetition, I was and i still am! My parents just didn't get how I would enjoy watching the dame thing over and over, then playing the same game over and over, but I really did like it!

[ollieplimsoles]

What tv show is it out of interest op?

[arethereanyleftatall]

My dd2 played for hours and hours with her peppa pig figures, then paw patrol, then magiclip dolls, now shopkins.

I think it, and she, is/are absolutely wonderful.

[LissaLoves]

The first obsession lasted 18 months and was Peppa. We're now 6 months in to Ben and Holly. It's all she wants to talk about or do. She's not particularly bothered about watching it but won't play with anything else or anyone other than me with her figures.

[AlleyCatandRastaMouse]

DS does a lot of repetitive play and has ASD. I suppose though it is more than being obsessed with the same toys over and over again, dd1 is NY and was obsessed with Dora, it is the nature of his play that is different from his NT sisters. he repeats scenarios that he has previously seen on tv or tablet games and plays those verbatim to what he has seen in tv. So in short it is normal but it can also deviate into atypical behaviour too. The SN board is excellent here for info if you are concerned.

[AlleyCatandRastaMouse]

*Ny is NT is neurotypical

[ollieplimsoles]

She is BU, everyone knows Bing is the way to go...

Seriously op don't worry, she will move on to something else soon, why not encourage her to draw pictures of her figures, or make something to play with that centres around them, like a shoe box house, if you are worried about her not doing other things?

[LissaLoves]

Thanks alley. I am concerned about ASD as she has a host of sensory and food related issues too. It just struck me at grandparents house yesterday that all the other kids had played 10+ different things in the hour before lunch but dd just sat on her own in the corner playing the same scenarios she always does.

[LissaLoves]

I do encourage her to do other things Ollie and she'll do them with her figures for a bit but ultimately just prefers the repeating of the same scenarios bit.

[AlleyCatandRastaMouse]

I would get this post moved to SN Lissa your concerns sound a bit more extensive than play and YADNBU. You will get great information on SN.

[fatmomma99]

I think children enjoy play which repeats and repeats, and it isn't necessarily a sign of SN.

Just 4 is very young. See how she develops before you decide, and talk to people who work with her.

[BillSykesDog]

Apparently the Peppa obsession is normal. I have a very experienced childminder and apparently every child she's looked after has a phase of Peppa obsession.

[ollieplimsoles]

Thats good that she will mix it up a little bit when encouraged op, but I second getting this moved to sn board. Your post about her sensory issues may be something to watch.

Have you spoken to an expert about the possibility of asd?

[Medusacascade]

It was Thomas he Tank engine when my DS was 2. Then from 3 to now (9) it's Doctor Who. He has ASD. Would have been Aspergers but they don't diagnose that anymore. I think the sensory issues you mention coupled with the obsessive specialist interest to the exclusion of other things would warrant a trip to the GP for a referral to a paediatrician. I think you already know that really though. It will all be fine. Could be nothing but waiting times are very long so crack on without feeling you are time wasting.

[MintChocAddict]

I could have written your post OP although I have a 5 year old DS. Brings whatever his current obsession is into every type of play. I do wonder whether he is somewhere on the AS as he has a number of quirks. I do notice though after a few months at school he does appear to be more aware of other types of play and will join in, so no longer always on his terms with his theme all the time. Think he's becoming slightly less obsessive and intense as he gets older. I do watch his play and am amazed at his imagination and the scenarios he dreams up for his figures. I think I'd be more concerned if he was unable to adapt but he'll happily draw, play with sand, act out scenes, pretend to make videos, dress up etc but the figures that are in favour always play a key role. Sounds v similar to your DC.

[MattDillonsPants]

It can be one of the signs of ASD but in my experience, it's also a sign of a kid who just falls in love with stuff passionately! One of my DDs now 8 was like this...she still is in a way but it's different now she's older. She now falls in love with certain female singers or in love with certain bits and bobs which aren't even toys...and she's not on the spectrum. She's just very passionate about what she's "into" at the time.

[Member251061]

It does sound a little unusual to play the same thing over & over on her own for up to 3 hours-especially when her cousins are playing nearby.
Does she interact with other children at school/nursery? If so, I really wouldn't worry. She is still so very young & role play is such a good way to learn. Perhaps you could play with her & see how she interacts with you? Perhaps come up with a different setting rather than what she normally does.
Speak To her teachers & a dr if you are worried.

[BackforGood]

That sounds very rigid and unimaginative to me. When you add in the sensory issues and food issues, it is certainly adding up to enough to want to investigate a little further.
Does she go to Nursery at all ? What do they say?

[LissaLoves]

I do often play with her and the scenarios always have to be on her terms and cannot deviate from the norm or she gets hysterically upset. She goes to nursery and they say she's improving in interacting with other children but she says she never plays with other children and doesn't want to. She never interacts with cousins and I've never seen her play with another child other than her older sister. Even on play dates, she'll act as though she can't even see the other child unless they encroach on her space.

[dietstartstmoz]

I think that sounds quite like ASD traits, my DS has ASD and will happily play alone for hours and struggles to interact with other children. When he is playing with others it is on his terms and rigid thinking. I would suggest going to your GP to outline your concerns and ask for a referral for an ASD assessment. Have a look online at ASD signs. Good luck and yes post on SN boards.

[BarbarianMum]

Yes based on your posts I think you'd be as well to ask your GP for a referral for assessment. I think it will help you both to know if there is more to this or not. If there isn't then great, no harm done. But if there is then it is so, so much better to know.