obsessive behaviour

[magsy12]

Hi all

My grandson is just coming up to three. He is obsessed with the washing machine. The first thing he asks me is have you any washing.

He watches it go round then wants to empty it.

He flaps his arms and goes back and forth to it. In other words he just loves it !!!

Is this a sign of autism, or normaal behaviour ?
He talks very well, makes eye contact and loves kisses and cuddles.

He plays with his other toys aswell, but when he is enjoying some thing he flaps his arms and hands around. Is this normal?
How can we wean him off the washing machine ?
We have proper conversations with him, and he is very intellegent in every other way.
We are worried about him
Thanks for your time
Maggie

I'm no expert about signs of autism but it sounds very normal to me - I remember absolutely loving washing machines as a kid and wanting to just stay in the launderette just to watch the washing ( I suppose it's the colours children like?). My 3 yr old DD shows very obsessive tendencies sometimes but I have always assumed that that is just typical for this age (but as I say, I'm no expert). Your grandson sounds very sweet by the way.

I think obsessions are very normal at this age. Autism is such a wide spectrum so it is difficult to diagnose, although hand flapping is a common autistic behaviour (though not neccessarily). I think there would have to be unusual behaviour most of the time for autism to be diagnosed. The fact that he plays with other toys well and makes eye contact is a sign that all is well. If he enjoys the washing machine I don't think you have to wean him off it. You could encourage other interests as well. He sounds lovely and sweet. However, if you are concerned then a doctor could refer to someone at the hospital who could assess.

I've cared for many many children over the last 20 years or so (OMG I sounds soooo old now!) and I've seen loads who have had little obsessions. I've seen hand flapping, obsessions with wheels, trains, not being touched, children whose get upset if their belongings are moved, children who pull at their clothes, spin compulsively,.. I could go on for ages.

I have seen little bits of behaviour which could be described as autistic in lots of children. The difference comes when one child has many different behaviours at the same time. Autism is an overall picture, a pervasive developmental disorder which means it affects many aspects of a child's life.

I would not be at all concerned about your grandson unless he had lots of social and sensory difficulties too. Don't try and wean him off the washing machine. He could just be developing his understanding of round-and-round-ness. Help him to explore other things which do the same - wheels, balls, spinning tops, umbrellas,.... and keep being a lovely caring Grandma.

There is a great scene in one of those Italian films, where the granddad (Mastroianni?) is visiting his married dd, and doesn't know how to turn the television on to keep his grandson quiet, so in the end turns on washing machine instead- totally compulsive watching.

Hi to every one

Thanks for all your replies.

Today Jake ( my grandson ) is doing the washing at my other daughters house, and he is having a great time !!!!

He just loves any ones washing machine ????

Hopefully he will grow out of this

Again thanks

Maggie x