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Preteens

Parenting a preteen can be a minefield. Find support here.

12 year old repetitive behaviour

2 replies

dinosaur17 · 19/07/2021 13:00

DS has just finished 1st year of high school. There’s been some query over possible ASD from his primary school but he’s very bright and sociable so they and I never felt hard pressed to have him assessed. I have brought this up recently with the school as I don’t want to hinder him if he may be able to get some extra input. His dad is very similar so there is some cross over of what is likely personality traits.

There’s never been any concerns over challenging behaviour, and his dad (who I’ve been divorced from for a few years) has never expressed any concern over any of his “quirks”.

Recently his behaviour has become a bit repetitive, some of it I think is a cry for attention, he has younger siblings who admittedly take up a lot of mine and my husbands time. So he’ll carry on doing something that my husband or I have repeatedly told him not to, just because any attention is good attention isn’t it!

But the bit I’m struggling with May just be normal pre teen argumentative behaviour, but he constantly repeats himself, almost I think as a diversion. For example; I was trying to get everyone out of the door last week and he was looking for a t shirt in the dryer. Asked him what he was looking for,
“Clothing”
Do you need some help?
“Clothing”
If you explain what it is you want I can help you find it?
“Clothing”

In the end i just got fed up and walked off.

Today also i was carrying the baby downstairs,Dc likes to pat baby on the head (I’ve no idea why😂) but today went to poke him, he’d never in a million years intentionally hurt him.
So I said please don’t do that, he’s got a soft spot on his head
“Poke pat”
No I’ve asked you not to poke him
“Poke pat”
Please don’t poke him, I’ve explained why you shouldn’t do that.
Again in the end I walked off with the baby.

He is like this, constantly. He argues with me all the time trying to justify whatever he can to me, which I think is just normal trying to find his place/be assertive/teenage type behaviour.
But the repetitive phrases/ignoring me is driving me crackers. Is there anyone who has any advice? X

OP posts:
tattychicken · 19/07/2021 13:10

Do you think he is repeating the words deliberately or involuntarily? Was thinking of Tourettes to be honest but could be way off base...

funtimefrank · 19/07/2021 20:36

So mine certainly ignore me (11 yr old girls) and I get the blank looks and answering back. Dd1 was sent to her room on Saturday because of the way she said 'it's a skirt' as the insolence was breathtaking.

But not the repeating tbh. Maybe that's worth keeping an eye on.

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