DS (asd) suddenly become completely obsessed with his lego, to the point where he does'nt have time to drink, eat, sleep.

[totaleclipse]

I have tried to encourage him away from it, but nothing works, even if we go out he insists on taking 6-7 pieces with him, makes something, breaks it up over and over again, I found him still awake at midnight last night still playing with lego. He is also incontenent and yesterday was the first day in a long time that he had no accidents, thats when I realised he had'nt had a drink all day (he makes his own drinks)

This only started 2 days ago, since he has been of school with a bad stomach. I would feel awful taking the lego away from him, as he has done nothing wrong, but would it be too harsh for me to remove it and insist he eats and drinks? I know that will cause a huge upset, he has been awake fro 3 hours now, refused breakfast and a drink, and has not moved from the living room floor playing with his lego. He is 6.9.

[KarenThirl]

I wonder if there could be a comfort factor here, as your son's obsession has grown since he's been off school sick? Perhaps he's focusing on his Lego to take his mind away from feeling poorly?

My son also has extreme obsessions (he's 9, with AS) and Lego is one of his too. I don't know how your son would respond but J manages best when I structure time-limited periods of playing with his obsessions, rather than allowing him free play with it. Do you use a timer with your son? Would he accept eg half an hour at a time with Lego, then a break to do some structured activity with him? Offer Lego as a reward for cooperating with other tasks/activities perhaps. Also, give pre-warnings when the time is almost up so that he's expecting to have to end soon.

In the past J's obsessions have been so strong that I've had no choice but to take the object away and start afresh, meltdown or not. That's helped him to see how much the obsession has affected his ability to participate in the world and that it's not in his best interests to lose himself in his obsessions.

It's also helped my son to put away toys in between playing with them. His distractibility is high and if he sees his obsession lying around his room then he's more likely to want to play with it. We clear everything away each night and get them out for structured times the next day, and often we find that he's moved on to something else in the meantime.

Don't know if that will help much, they're all so different aren't they?

[totaleclipse]

Thanks, dont think its a comfort thing, he had the runs, but did'nt feel ill, IKYWIM. H e has had many obsessions before, but noting to this extreme, yes, I will have to organise a structure for him, and brave the meltdowns

Thanks for the advice, I will invest in a timer as he struggles to understand lenghs of time, a good idea thanks.

[Davros]

Without being too harsh on him, what about saying he can have (some of) the Lego if he does X or Y first? I wouldn't take it all away totally, or you may just cause him great distress, but try (!) to use it to your advantage if possible.

[supportman]

My advise would be to decide when he can and can't have his logo and be firm with him. I work regually with an autistic lad and he has some very strong obsessions and like your DS, these can take over everything else. He doesn't like to stop playing to eat or use the toilet, but I am firm with him, tantrum or not, and say that you can do X when you have done Y and we get there in the end.