Page 6 | ASD son doesn’t stop talking about his special subject

Powerofpurple · 2025-02-17T17:37:36+00:00

His special subject is countries of the world and he’s extremely knowledgeable on it (he’s 6 years old). His memory is incredible and he can draw a map of the world from memory and name every single flag. But the one issue is that he doesn’t stop talking about it from the moment he wakes in the morning, until the moment he goes to sleep. Everything about it in all different forms - smallest to largest countries, eye colours of each country, populations, borders of each country, food from each country and so on and so on. It’s never ending and as much as I enjoy hearing about it, it’s wearing me down.

StrawberrySquash · 18/02/2025 13:52

everythingthelighttouches · 17/02/2025 18:56

We’ve been through countries, facts about the universe, facts about subatomic particles, Apollo missions, gastrointestinal system, Darwin and Galápagos Islands, North Pole, South Pole I’m sure there are more…

Titanic is an ongoing topic that seems to outlive others and yes we are planning to go to Belfast! Maybe I know the other poster who mentioned titanic!

currently on US military vehicles in a ridiculous level of detail.

It is very wearing.

Our DS will not do basic maths and English, so if anyone has any tips to get him to learn those, I’d be very grateful.

Can you get him to do stuff related to the tank? So how high will two tanks be on top of each other? What about side by side? How far can they drive on x litres of fuel?

Percypigsyumyum · 18/02/2025 15:00

I taught a lovely lad a few years ago who was really into super cars. He would stay behind every lesson to show me a model and tell all about it.

It’s been really interesting to hear all the different topics being focussed on. I’m intrigued why Titanic is so popular, is it the size, dimensions etc? Or the tragedy itself?

BestZebbie · 18/02/2025 15:05

LilacLilias · 18/02/2025 07:58

Yes, I'd probably prefer "favourite topic/subject" or "area of expertise" as I think those are more accurate descriptions.

Show quote history

I like 'enthusiasm(s)', derived from the people being 'enthusiasts' about their preferred topic.

StarCourt · 18/02/2025 15:08

Ask me how much I know about Anime!!!

chelseahealyslips · 18/02/2025 15:16

My dd's is cats at the moment. She's 9. She can monologue about breeds, sounds, diet, lifespans for all eternity a long time.
See also the puss in boots film franchise which she can repeat word for word.
She has one particular song that she sings on repeat for hours on end.
Before all this, it was Harry Potter, in ridiculous amounts of detail.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 18/02/2025 15:25

BetaMom · 17/02/2025 21:50

Sorry this sounds a bit nuts, but how do you channel the hyper focus toward something so productive and useful?
My 5 year old will just force me to sit for hours while they recite the names of their stuffed animals, then realign them, then change the names again, then align them differently because it’s “snack time” and then repeat on an endless loop.
However, should I suggest we spend even a minute reading or doing homework, I risk total meltdown.

It's story time for the stuffed animals. They unfortunately cannot read, so it is 5YO's job to read/do homework and theirs to listen and learn. Assuming, of course, that the stuffed animals are believed to have sentience beyond snack time and you won't get a Look with 'Don't be ridiculous, Mummy, they're toys, they won't understand'.

There are many real cats and dogs that have reading time, too. They seem to like it.

ntmdino · 18/02/2025 15:33

BetaMom · 17/02/2025 21:50

Sorry this sounds a bit nuts, but how do you channel the hyper focus toward something so productive and useful?
My 5 year old will just force me to sit for hours while they recite the names of their stuffed animals, then realign them, then change the names again, then align them differently because it’s “snack time” and then repeat on an endless loop.
However, should I suggest we spend even a minute reading or doing homework, I risk total meltdown.

The simple answer is that you don't. Even as an adult, special interests are completely unpredictable and just sort of...happen.

I once spent two weeks in a rabbit hole trying to optimise the traffic around our town (other half said her way to the supermarket was quicker). Ditto for figuring out the most efficient way to re-engineer the plumbing and add an irrigation system for our house (I was asked to buy a hose).

The traffic in our town is still terrible, and we still don't have a hose. I do, however, have a much better understanding of why.

Manthide · 18/02/2025 15:44

At least he is interested in something interesting! My now 21 asd ds can talk for hours about cycle paths, lampposts, the new junction on the A1 and railway lines! I'm not sure anyone could feign an interest in those topics!

Eachpeachpears · 18/02/2025 15:45

TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 17/02/2025 18:45

DS was like this.

Ask me a question about Minecraft. Go on.

I know EVERYTHING!

Yep we're on Minecraft too... I'm so bloody bored of hearing about it

dabdab · 18/02/2025 15:47

TheLightSideOfTheMoon · 17/02/2025 18:45

DS was like this.

Ask me a question about Minecraft. Go on.

I know EVERYTHING!

Oh gosh, maybe you could come in and have a long chat with a lovely little chap in my class...

hufflepuffbutrequestinggriffindor · 18/02/2025 15:49

Yep, DS is 9 and will currently talk about cars from morning to night if he can get away with it! It is tiring and I try to engage but sometimes have to remind him that I’m interested in other things.

Fishandchipsareyum · 18/02/2025 15:51

My 11 year old daughter is my little pony obsessed and saves all the chat for me and it's constantly when I'm around her. It is difficult. At least she is talking to me I keep reminding myself as she doesn't hug and stuff.

Eachpeachpears · 18/02/2025 15:53

Dontlletmedownbruce · 18/02/2025 10:42

This thread has just reminded me of DS1 stupid battles phase. Could a tiger beat a lion in a fight? Could an armadillo beat a hedgehog? Could 12 rabbits beat a cat etc etc. What about 9 rhinos against a small T Rex. I found a letter in his room a few years ago marked 'To God' from when he was little probably a Holy Communion exercise. It just said 'did you fight the devil?' 😂

Tell him one rabbit can beat a cat... My rabbit did! And he's deaf and blind in one eye! Super rabbit (or scared cat!)

Wylajojo · 18/02/2025 16:03

My son's specialist area of interest is the history of gaming consoles. He even tests my on my knowledge.

abracadabra1980 · 18/02/2025 21:24

InvisibilityCloakActivated · 17/02/2025 18:27

Loads of parents looking for relatable educational content online. Could you film him drawing a map and then record a voiceover of him talking about the country? (No need to put his face online if you are jot comfortable with that, just film his hands drawing and record bis voice separately). And you could leave him to record his facts in a different (soundproofed!) room! Stick it on YouTube. My kids would watch!

This sounds like a fantastic idea and your son sounds awesome. I love geography and still do enjoy a map, studying countries/their boundaries, and national flags. And I still love my globe! I'm mid fifties so will have to wait for a grandchild now before I can indulge in this little hobby with someone again. I know the repetitiveness must be wearing - but the topic could be much worse!

InvisibilityCloakActivated · 18/02/2025 21:34

Some games for your son (and anyone else who likes a good country knowledge challenge!) The first 2 are daily games, the third one has loads of geography quizzes available any time and you can do them all as many times as you like. Enjoy!

https://worldle.teuteuf.fr/

https://globle-game.com/

https://www.sporcle.com/games/g/world

sukars · 18/02/2025 22:45

Hello, I am one of the kids being talked about (with permission) on this thread, and am loving it! My suggestion for OP is to maybe push your son towards the hobby of making fantasy places: endless opportunities to draw maps, invent names, make up flags, facts etc.. not sure if it'll satisfy the special interest, but worth a try.

TheFormidableMrsC · 18/02/2025 23:01

sukars · 18/02/2025 22:45

Hello, I am one of the kids being talked about (with permission) on this thread, and am loving it! My suggestion for OP is to maybe push your son towards the hobby of making fantasy places: endless opportunities to draw maps, invent names, make up flags, facts etc.. not sure if it'll satisfy the special interest, but worth a try.

And we love all of you and how special you really are! It's a privilege to parent an ASD kid. My life is richer for it!

ThePinkPowerRangers · 19/02/2025 10:07

I had to make a titanic birthday cake one year.

Bristolnewcomer · 19/02/2025 10:18

ThePinkPowerRangers · 19/02/2025 10:07

I had to make a titanic birthday cake one year.

Picture please!

NotAlwaysasitSeems · 19/02/2025 12:38

ThePinkPowerRangers · 19/02/2025 10:07

I had to make a titanic birthday cake one year.

I had to make a minecraft one. I was very proud of it, it took me hours). Then dc studied it and pointed out that the house shelter thing didn't look realistic enough! He said the water was realistic but was overwhelming him because he didn't understand how I did it. Dc also questioned me where the trees were, I had even made the saplings ffs, 😭

I made a simpler space theme last year that was to his liking thank goodness, and the details were apparently correct. 🥵 We have agreed to keep his birthday cakes simpler now because he gets too stressed and overwhelmed with the details and the process.

I wouldn't change him for the world though, he is incredible😍