Help me understand deliberate destructivenss in ASD children

[kerpob]

My DS2 has just sat in the back of the car on the way back home from school and deliberately pulled and cracked at his Nintendo ds until he has completely separated the two screens. It is of course broken now. I am so cross with him and I would love if somebody could help me understand why they do these kinds of things. I was in traffic and couldn't stop him verbally. This is about number 10 of the ds's we have bought - our lives would be a misery without them so they are an absolute necessity and we are now going to have to buy him a new one. He absolutely loves his ds so there is no logic to it of course! Thanks.

I wonder if it could be a sensory issue. Is the sensation he gets from pulling the screens apart satisfying for him in a similar way to picking a scab or popping bubble wrap?

I know that many children with ASD struggle with cause and effect so he possible doesn't understand the consequences of his action - you'd clearly be better able to judge that one. My girls are able to keep to rules and obey instructions but neither is good at understanding how they will feel later as a result of their actions now. How they feel at this moment seems to be all they can really relate to.

Yes that makes sense - he really doesn't get the link between the two in terms of consequences. Bubble wrap is an idea to keep his hands occupied in the car - thanks!

My ds often gets destructive with the ds when he gets frustrated with a game. Could this be wats causing it? Have u really bought 10 ds? I would get firmer with him and set down very clear boundaries. No ds in the car for example.

Ds used to break playstation games when he was younger because he'd get frustrated with them. He didn't actually stop until I stopped replacing them and taught him to take his frustration out on something else (he used to tear up catalogues, directories etc) I think you will have to limit where and when he can use a ds and maybe don't replace it too quickly so that you can reinforce what it is like when the ds is broken.