Television

[Beninthesortingoffice]

DS (6) with an autistic spectrum condition diagnosis, with associated learning disabilities has started to refuse to watch TV for goodness sake.

I mean he refuses a massive amount of stuff - but TV???!!!

It started because DH put an episode of Justin's house on (I mean fair enough)

I have just checked, apparently the ipad is fine, it's just the TV.

Any experience? And - what on earth am I going to do over the summer!

I wonder if the tv was too loud? Can she watch tv on the iPad?

When our daughter (ASD diagnosis age 3) was around 4 or 5 she was terrified of the “ blue screen “ on the tv.
It was something that often happened can’t remember why. She had language and would scream “ Oh no blue screen “ and have a meltdown.

A trainee psychologist working with her at the time advised taking her to stand right in front of it to show her it was OK!! We didn’t.

There were certain programmes she had a really strong aversion to I remember Bear in the Big Blue House ( not sure blue was the common factor)

Could be anything maybe sensory as Siouxsie suggests?
Try some photos/ symbols of programmes you know he’s enjoyed in the past to give an element of choice.

Our daughter used to have a thing about even numbers ( volume?) even as an adult volume setting had to end in 0 or 5

There will be a reason. Good luck unpicking
Also worth checking if just at home or ok at a relative’s or friends house?

Oh that's a good idea. We will try tv at Grandma's house and see if the issue is location specific

Apparently the iPad is ok, but not YouTube (so not TV still, but games are ok)

Good ideas, thanks

I opened this thread expecting a completely different discussion!! OP I hope you get to the bottom of it.

I second the suggestions about trying a TV in different settings to see if you can help him gradually get over the issue. I don't have direct experience with refusing tv, but have on refusing different things - our OT once gave us some advice about how some autistic children can need more help at an older age to understand that some situations aren't necessarily permanent (i.e. you're not leaving the house forever, Justin's House is not the only thing that comes on tv, etc). And fair enough, Justin's House would send a lot of people over the edge!

Still not watching TV or YouTube. He has spent the holidays so far watching the thousands of photos and video clips on the school class communication app (class dojo) on the iPad. Hmmm. It's kind of funny - today he is watching the videos of when his class went to sing at a local nursing home. He told me his class were singing. I asked where he was, and he said he waited outside, which sounds about right.

It's kind of like he is processing the whole last year at school. He spent days looking at the photos of the school trip which he did manage.

That's do sweet your ds looking at clips and pictures of his class over the last year.
My dd is nearly 22 rarely watches TV, likes the computer or tablet for you tube.
Another thing she used to like was bubble baths, more bubbles the better.
Then suddenly got angry with the bubbles, it wasn't until the 2nd time I realised the issue. As speech disordered quite severe at the time.
So ended up having baths with no bubbles. Mostly has showers now.
Still to this day, don't know why. Supervised at all times, so no slipping in the bath.
Some times are children are mysteries.
Dd is obsessed with drawing, bedroom is more like an art shop.
Does your ds entertain himself with toys etc??

Ah yes, thank you. Your bubble bath story make me feel better. Feels quite similar.

Probably the only tv series she's watched on TV is destroyed in seconds.
Or death in paradise, won't watch it with me. Complains I'm breathing to much and distracting her/ annoying her.
Her 1st job coach asked her what she watches, reply was you tube. Her face was a picture. She didn't really get dd"s disabilities.
Didn't even have a smart tv then. Lol