|
|
Post by katiekat on Jul 9, 2008 23:12:07 GMT -5
For about a month now Sean has become increasingly obsessed with his Pokemon cards. He goes back and forth with these things but this time it is getting out of control. It is affecting everything he does. Or I should say does not do because all he does is mess with these cards. He stacks them, counts them,puts them in piles, in bags, puts rubberbands around them and will stare at them for hours. He will not do anything else. I even surprised him with a video game he has wanted to try and snap him out of it. He played it for 5 minutes and went right back to the cards.He wont go outside at all and last night we had a baseball game and he wanted to take them and we said no b/c there is a playground and kids. He snuck 1 card in his pocket and literally sat and stared at it all night. He was taking them to summer rec (which is allowed) but then I found out he refuses to do any activities because he wants to look at the cards so I have limited it to only taking them once a week. Today I insisted he come outside with me and when we got out back he pulls out the cards and sat on the ground & refused to do anything else. If you try and talk to him he will just talk about the Pokemon cards. He is also always hiding them because he thinks people are going to steal them out of our house. My h wants to take them away all together. I don't want to do that but maybe I will limit the time at home as well because this seems to be getting extreme. Any thoughts?
|
|
|
|
Post by charliegirl on Jul 10, 2008 0:21:55 GMT -5
I wonder what is going through his mind when he sits and stares at one thing for hours. I'd be bored stiff.
I don't have any answers. I don't think taking them away will do anything other than give him a reason to become obsessed with feeling like you have stolen them, along with the consequent rotten behavior that would bring. I am concerned that he is convinced someone would steal them. Have you talked to his therapist about it?
|
|
|
|
Post by anon4now on Jul 10, 2008 10:32:36 GMT -5
I don't know the age of your son, but I know around 8-9 years old, developmentally, they are starting collections and they will sort and organize and resort and reorganize their collections. It's their way of learning to do these things.
Unfortunately for our kids, it becomes an unhealthy obsession that is interfering with other parts of their day. Wether it's other activities, sleeping, chores, hygiene, etc. The obsession is there.
I personally would have an allotted time to play with the cards, and do what you're doing, by giving him other activities. Since my son always loses his items, I would be making it something he can earn to play with. But I don't know if I'm the best person to be giving advice, because nothing I do seems to work.
You could always learn to play, and play with him. It's a great game to teach math and strategy, plus it's one on one time. I played with my son for awhile and it took us a few games to learn all the rules. Everytime we played, we would add a new rule to follow so we could learn as we go. If you need any help learning let me know. I can help.
Good luck,
Anon
|
|
|
|
Post by katiekat on Jul 10, 2008 22:45:33 GMT -5
He is 7. And it is definitely to the point where it is interfering with his life in general. Today I did start to limit his time with them. He came home from summer rec today with some beaded jewelry he made for me at the craft table. This is the first time he participated in any crafts. He also said he had fun playing archery. I told him he could take the cards twice a week as long as he did activities on the other days and he was good with that idea. I think he actually realized that if he stopped messing with those cards he could have some fun. Every Friday they go bowling so I am sure he will be fine without them tomorrow. He also played the video game today for about 1/2 hr. How sad is that I am glad he played a video game LOL. He discovered today that he loves the video game. I felt at first a bit mean about the cards but I am seeing after today that he needs to be snapped out of it a bit...now he is having actual FUN. I am glad.
As far as the therapist I got a bill today for an appt. I missed. It was the first one I ever missed at any doctor so I think thats pretty good. But she has not returned my calls and I wonder if thats why? I hope not because I cannot start looking for another one again.
|
|
|
|
Post by anon4now on Jul 11, 2008 14:15:14 GMT -5
Awe, that's awesome, I want some beaded jewlery lol. Glad to hear it worked. Now you have to keep him moving from activity to activity, b/c you know he'll obsess over the game sooner or later.
That sux about the doctor. I wonder if things get busier during the day because the kids are out of school. Hope you hear from her soon.
Anon
|
|
|
|
Post by jill on Jul 12, 2008 10:03:39 GMT -5
It may be called hyper focus my daughter does that as well and everything relates back to what she is into at the moment and it lasts a few weeks to a month then she moves on to something else. Then down the road she will either forget about it completely or something would trigger it back again. I would talk to your psychologist for ideas not wanting to do anything else that is something my girl does not do she will do other things and while at home have her obsession.
|
|
I was about to conquer the world but then I got distracted by something shiny.
