Advice needed on how to handle wierd phobia ...

[junkcollector]

Since the birth of DS2 (18 months) DS1 (5) has developed a terrible phobia of the board game Operation. I know it is since then cos my sister bought him a travel version as a 'new baby' present.

We obviously don't have it in the house anymore but lots of his friends do. He gets really distraught when he sees it and cries etc. Close friends now hide it when he comes round (although he saw an advert for it on TV at someones house the other day and freaked) but it is really starting to be a problem when he is invited round to new friends (and this is happening quite a bit as he has just started school). You'd be suprised how many people have it!

In other ways he is a happy, well adjusted little boy. How do I handle the phobia itself and how do I mention it to new friends without making him sound hysterical?

What part of the game freaks him out? I would hedge a bet on it being the body parts 'exposed'.Have you had a little chat with him about what is frightening him?

I would be tempted to get a body book ,you know how the body/organs work and explain how everything works in our bodies to make us strong and healthy.

Yeah, he says it's the buzzing nose. I think it's the surprise. He's generally fine with body parts as they are doing skeletons at school and he loves it.

Not sure how to deal with it. Just wait for him to grow out of it or try to help him over it?

My 6 yr old DS (who is HFA) had a real phobia about Pop up Pirate - I think it was the surprise element that freaked him out too. He went into an absolute melt down at the Child Dev Clinic when they got it out ! I told them to put it away because there was no way he was going to co-operate otherwise. We had to throw away the one at home as well.

TBA it is a phobia that's not too bad - you can avoid the game to a certain degree. My DS is also phobic about balloons, lifts, certain animals and food (and probably other things he's not experienced yet).

I feel for you Countingto10. How do you handle his phobias?

Most things we can avoid - don't go shopping with him so avoid lifts, don't do farm trips so avoid animals (he is beginning to stroke our old cat now), don't tend to do parties as he hates balloons, noise and food !!! Came home after 10 mins. at the last one and he spent his whole time in the kitchen at the one before that (tbh he doesn't get many invites as doesn't have many friends only 3/4 who tolerate him).Re his food, the Child Dev Clinic say to leave him until he is 8 when we will tackle the food problem - he's lived on toast/bread, strawberry fromage frais and chocolate since he was 2.

It must be very tiring for you. I used to work with autistic children but that wasn't 24/7.

Bumping as am interested in suggestions. Also feel sorry for the poor aunt who caused this phobia!

When the 'poor' aunt is a mother herself which she will soon be, I hope no well meaning relatives buy potentially terrifying toys! But they might plantsitter...they might.....

I am really interested in this as DS1 (also 5)has always been terrified of a certain character on cbeebies and as he gets older it seems to be getting worse rather than better.

I will be watching closely for tips. It's a relief to know we're not the only ones.

MumWith2Boys - I like the way you have avoided saying the character's name! Obviously second nature by now!