Perseverative/Obsessive Play or Typical?

[Anonymous]

Our almost 4 yo LOVES cars. He plays with them almost incessantly. He would prefer to play with them over anything else and often plays out similar scenes. He makes the same noise when the car is "turning on". He also makes everything into places that we've been before - library, costco, home depot, the bay bridge, etc. In addition, he builds the same garage with magnatiles and parks the cars either in it or out of it. There's minimal variation. Since he's my first I don't know if this is normal play or if it's more perseverative. We try and engage him in other activities and he will play with other things without a problem, but very much prefers cars and would play with them all day if I let him.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Does he do anything else that is atypical? Can he, for example, carry on an extended conversation? Can he describe something that is not right in front of him ("tell me three things in your classroom?"). Does he have friends?

[Anonymous]

How is his eye contact? When he plays with other children (if he does) do they always have to play his way (ie. any change in the routine will elicit a meltdown).

[Anonymous]

Op, here. He has good eye contact, I think. Looks at people when he's talking to them and vice versa. He doesn't always say hi to people and gets somewhat shy at the beginning of a get together til he warms up. He can definitelt describe things and tells me all about his day at school or camp. He even jokes around. He has friends. The kids seem to like him, but I don't think he's as social as he could be. He is definitely a follower. Likes to do what the other kids do, say what they say and games/ situations don't have to go his way. He has melt downs about things, but they're not huge and I think that they're age appropriate. I just think his play seems immature and repetetive. Do most nt kids play out scenes/scenarios that they've done in real life with their toys? Do nt kids play with the same toys over and over again and pretend that they're cars or trucks? I know every kid is diff just want to see if I should be concerned. Thank you!!

[Anonymous]

Sounds like my 4 year old with dinosaurs and then it just stopped and it was action heroes. While always worth keeping an eye on, nothing you have said tells me to make the next appointment with a developmental pediatrician.

[Anonymous]

Sometimes repetitive play like this could be a sign of a motor planning (or other motor) deficits. That is how it seems to be with my kids. If other kinds of play are confusing and challenging, it can be very comforting and much easier to repeat certain patterns. My two sons do this in totally different ways but the falling back on the favorite patterns seems to stem from similar issues. With one, I think anxiety, particularly social, also comes into play (though this was not at all obvious until he was a little older). I would have said he was appropriately social until about 4-4.5.

[Anonymous]

To 06:16am: what did you notice at 4 to 4.5? And what have you done to help him? How do I know if it's motor planning and how do I help with that? Thanks!