Autism and Interests

[lucigo]

I am so bummed for my son and he doesn't even have a clue. He has developed a new interest. I bought his dad a NASA space shuttle simulator and he really likes watching/playing it, asked me for a space shuttle toy, searched ipod touch for "space shuttle free" apps (I was impressed!) etc. I was so proud of myself for actually finding a space shuttle little toy at the mall for him and when I brought it home he says...what about the boosters and the external tank?! Duh, how could I not know

Anyway, the reason I am so bummed, is that we are going to Disney the first week of February and he has always been ambivalent about the rides, the crowds etc. so I was really excited that we would be there when they were going to launch the space shuttle. I just read that its been pushed back though. I hadn't told him about it (we know better than to do that!!

Do you all get totally "into" your kids interests? I jump into them and use them for opportunities for language and interaction, and sometimes I end up asking myself...is this obsession or mine?! KWIM?

 

[ireland_nicole]

I look for any ways to connect with my kids and get them excited about learning and "playing" too, so at least you're not the only one- in fact, my DS just had a completely all Star Wars Christmas, so...

Anyway, have you thought about going to the Kennedy Space Center while you're there (preferably at the end of your trip, or WDW would be a total let down for him) He would absolutely LOVE it!

 

[Earstou]

I also recommend you take him to Kennedy Space Center. My dh and ds both love that place. One time we saw the shuttle being moved to the launch pad on the crawler-transporter, which was pretty cool. Another time a satellite was launched while we were there.
While you will miss the launch, you might see something else your ds will never forget!
And yes, we totally have gotten into his interests. For example, one time we vacationed in Seattle so that he could see a "real volcano" nearby (Mt St Helens)!

 

[NotUrsula]

LOL. You haven't lived until you have read the Del Rey Essential Guide series Star Wars books as bedtime stories every single night for 5 years. DS started memorizing them when he was 2.

Pop quiz: Who manufactured the TIE Fighter?
a) Kuat Drive Yards b) Incom Corporation, or c) Sienar Fleet Systems.

 

[Brightsy]

Oh yeah, I get totally immersed in my DSs inerests. Currently he's obsessed w/ the Titanic and her sister ship, Brittanic. So, I've read up, watched documentaries, taken him to a Titanic exhibit, watched Cameron's "Titanic" enough times to practically memorize the dialogue... LOL!

 

[NotUrsula]

... watched Cameron's "Titanic" enough times to practically memorize the dialogue... LOL!

When George Lucas announced that the "first" three SW movies would be released within a few years of one another, I actually cried, because I knew that DS would NOT rest until he had them all memorized.

Then we saw them, and I cried again, because the only thing worse than being forced to memorize 7 hours of film dialogue is being forced to memorize 7 hours of really BAD film dialogue. (With the first set I didn't mind so much; Lucas didn't write the dialogue for those.)

 

[lucigo]

My oldest daughter is at UCF so we will be staying only 30 minutes away from Kennedy. I think we are going to go over spring break - he is going to love it

 

[lucigo]

Yesterday was like Christmas at our house. Little Big Planet 2 came out, and his space shuttle with boosters and an external tank came in the mail. The $6 toy won over the $70 game.