What's the deal with the vacuum cleaner obsession? Both of my younger ones love our vacuums. I know some other asd kids who are completely obsessed. What is it about them that facinates asd kids?
I think my ds likes it because it's loud and they often keep the same tone. He likes the sounds of all engines (cars, lawnmower, atv's). There is also vestibular? input from the vibration.
Our OT thinks these sounds act the same as tactile deep pressure but in a different way to his body and hearing.
Not sure I know, but this is what I've theorized:
My ds was TERRIFIED of the noise the vacuum cleaner made at an early age until he was about 3. To the point that I would have to have dh take ds out if I was going to vacuum or else I would take ds out while dh vacuumed (guess which scenario happened most often?
I think it is also a thing about being fascinated by how things work. The dirt is there and then all of a sudden it is sucked up into this machine and is gone!
We attended our niece's 2nd birthday party which we took ds to when he was about 2 1/2. She got a million gifts and one was a toy vacuum. My ds took one look at it and he looked like he had seen the holy grail. Her parents got it out for him and let him play with it. We ended up seriously paying them for it (they had gotten it for her) and took it home with us. He held onto it the entire 3 hour trip home! I can't believe we took this little girl's birthday present - but her parents insisted as they saw how happy it made ds. This was pre-diagnosis by the way (what WERE we thinking?).
So, I'm not sure exactly what it is about vacuums. Now that ds is older (he is almost 6), I will try to ask him and see if he can tell me what it is about vacuums that he liked so much. Trust me, I'm sure he'll remember being obsessed about them - he doesn't forget much (unless it's something he's gotten in trouble for and then all of a sudden he doesn't remember doing whatever it was he did wrong
Hope this helps - I'll try to ask ds after he is done watching Peter Pan (Captain Hook is probably becoming the next obsession but it is raining here and my little girl is taking a MUCH-needed nap - so I needed something that would keep him quiet for an hour or so and really nothing else does!). I don't usually have him watch much TV - but with packing and moving - I've had to bend that rule a little!
So funny, my 4 year old loves my vacuums but when they are turned on he's goes upstairs. He really is a bit scared of them when they are on. He loves his toy dirt devil too. At first he was scared when we turned it on, it made a quiet noise (my dh called it the dentist drill) but after a while he loved it turned on.
Our bubby hated them as an infant and now wants to do the vacuuming himself!
We use to vacuume 3-4 times a day!! Just because he loved it so much. He will still lie down( on the couch or bed) while we vacuume and roll back and forth. For some reason it calms him
This thread ....
I have had a phobia against vacuum cleaners since a small child ... and recently I have wondered ... and I STILL have that phobia! It is like a family joke.
Dooder HATED our vacuum, but will now tolerate it, and even wants to help at times. For Christmas, I got a Spot Bot (hand held carpet scrubber), because our dog sometimes gets sick on the carpet (never on the linoleum - why??). Anyways, Dooder fell in love with the Spot Bot. It was his new favorite toy.He would not get upset if I didnt hug or kiss him Goodnight, as long as he can hug and kiss his Vacuum
Linda
[QUOTE=snoopywoman]So, I'm not sure exactly what it is about vacuums. Now that ds is older (he is almost 6), I will try to ask him and see if he can tell me what it is about vacuums that he liked so much. Trust me, I'm sure he'll remember being obsessed about them - he doesn't forget much [/QUOTE]
Have you heard back from Snoopywoman?? I have been on the edge of my seat waiting to hear what her son has to say about this!!!!! BUMP
I have a vacuum and hairdryer lover here....and he really likes all electrical cords. (which is scarey combined with his tendency to mouth objects)
I bought him a vaccum-like toy that he is not interested in yet. I try to get him to play with a jump rope instead of the cords and that seems to be working.
Anybody think of a creative way to incorporate this interest into learning somehow?
Ben has two of the talking Little Tykes ones and he sleeps with them and vacuums with them whenever I vacuum. He also insists that the cord be wrapped up the right way and that I "take care" of my real vacuum and he will completely lose it if I just wind the cord around the handle and try to put it away. :)
Sorry! I'm not on all the time - we are moving in 2 1/2 weeks! My son said that he likes the sound of the vacuum cleaners (now) and he loves how they get everything all nice and sparkly clean! That was one answer - I'll see if I can get more out of him later.