Should developmentally younger special interests be discouraged in older children, teens, and adults with Autism?
This month, I wanted to talk about Autism and special interests and how some children and adults with Autism can have interests that are more common for young children as opposed to their same age peers. Depending on what the interest is, should you let the individual indulge in that interest or not?
Let’s say you have a fifteen-year-old boy who has an obsessive interest in Thomas the Train. The first thing I would consider in this case would be his developmental level as compared to his chronological age. If he is chronologically 15, but developmentally functioning at a 5-year-old level, his social and emotional cognition is likely not going to be close to that of a fifteen-year-old, so in this case, he may gravitate toward interests more designed for younger children. However, if you have a fifteen-year-old boy who is developmentally functioning at a ten-to-twelve-year-old level, that is still not on target with exactly 15 years, but it’s getting closer. His social cognition is going to be higher. He may or may not notice that the other kids in school don’t talk about Thomas or wear Thomas the train socks the way he likes to.
You may also want to consider how much time he is spending around typically developing same age peers. I can remember liking Sesame Street and watching it until I was in second grade. One day, mom came to me and said, “We don’t watch Sesame Street anymore.” Of course, at the time, I thought she was crazy, but now I completely understand why she did what she did. I was in a public school, and for most of the day, was in the general education classroom with about 20 other 7-to-8-year-old kids. All things considered, most kids that age have turned the channel on Big Bird and Cookie Monster by that time. My mom was also very big on encouraging age-appropriate social skills development, and I think she knew that allowing me to indulge in an interest like Sesame Street at that age when I was spending so much time around same age peers could potentially open the door to bullying or being picked on.
That is not to say, for example, that you can’t or shouldn’t allow a young person with Autism who has a developmentally younger special interest to partake in that interest in a way that more aligns with his age range. For example, if his interest is trains, and you are aiming to encourage more socially typical behaviors, maybe get him a LEGO set of a train, have him start saving up for a train trip, encourage him to read books about trains or visit a train museum, and so on.
Deciding whether to allow a young person with Autism to engage in a special interest that may not be developmentally appropriate is a decision to be made very carefully and really depends on how much you are wanting to encourage age-appropriate social skills and behavior, and how much time the young person is spending around typically developing peers. Also, figure out if this interest is a concern for you in relation to his social and emotional development. Feel free to consult with your child’s pediatrician or other professionals for guidance on encouraging age-appropriate interests.
Note: The views expressed in this column are those of the author and are intended for informational purposes only. They do not necessarily reflect the official stance of IRCA and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical, educational, or therapeutic advice.
Nassim, A. (2024). All Aboard with Thomas...or not? https://www.iidc.indiana.edu/irca/articles/all-aboard-with-thomas-or-not.html