Obsessed by his reflection

[KarenThirl]

Just wondering if any of you have come across this one. J has always been obsessed with his reflection, to the point where he will always look for a mirror if he's particularly happy or crying just to look at his face. He's even been known to find something to stand on when he couldn't reach without it. It's a major distraction for him as he keeps turning from the table to look in the mirror at mealtimes, laughs hysterically at 'how funny he is' when brushing his teeth (or rather, instead of brushing his teeth), always looking for an excuse to see himself. I find this odd as one of his particular difficulties is reading facial expressions and moods in others. Bit of a paradox, don't you think?

[MandM]

Karen, how old is J? It's just that I remember being concerned when dd was younger that she didn't pay any attention to reflections, even her own, in mirrors and that she didn't recognise herself in a mirror. I raised this concern with the paed and he said that on 'normal' () developmental scales children don't begin to recognise their own reflection until 2-2.5yrs. Sure enough, at about 3yrs dd suddenly started pointing and smiling at herself in the mirror and now fully understands that it is her looking back at her(iyswim). I use this to my own advantage as much as possible to distract her when going through the twice daily torture routine of hair-brushing/teeth-brushing/face-washing.
I'm not trying to trivialise your concerns and it maybe that others have got more useful advice/ideas as to your ds's fascination with his own reflection, but it may be that it is just a 'normal' phase.
(OR it could be that he has suddenly realised just how gorgeous he is!!!!!! )

[KarenThirl]

Hi MandM

J's six now and he's always done it, ever since he was a toddler. Struck us as odd in the beginning, odder still as he's grown older and the novelty should have worn off by now. Mind you, he IS rather handsome, if I do say so myself, so who can blame him!

[Jimjams]

ds1 (almost 6, severely autistic) has always loved mirrors. My mum and dad's latest present to him was a mirror (ds2 got a toy). He used to touch the mirror when we said "where's ds1" even as a toddler. I'm not sure how well developed his sense of self is so maybe just a learned reaction.

he also eses mirrors to stim as things look really interesting if you put your face right next tro it and lok sideways.

[mulsey]

My daugter, who has just turned 4 today loves mirrors. I use to joke with people that I thought, that she thought, she was a twin! Everytime she looks in the mirror, she makes the same faces, gestures and sounds, over and over again. Day to day, she doesnt really make any sounds, until she talks to herself in the mirror, and then shes loud and as we say in Scotland a wee bleather! I dont know what to make of it either....