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Can't decide if I should introduce electronics.. DS is bored.

MirandaHobbesMirandaHobbes member
in Special Needs

DS (3.5 yo, PDD-NOS) currently doesn't play with any electronic games or devices. DH and I don't have smartphones or Iphones, and our desktop computer is rarely used. A couple times I've pulled up Seseme Street games on the desktop and encouraged DS to use the mouse on the really simple games, but he really doesn't understand the concept and can't manipulate the mouse. He just likes watching the characters.

Clearly it appears that he is too immature for such a game. But I can't help but to wonder if he got the hang of it, it might help him learn some focus and hand eye coordination. He is behind typical children in his comprenshion of counting, letters, etc. I'm hoping something electronic like this will help him along, but I don't want to introduce an obsessive bad habit either. I've read all the warnings about screen time and young kids, especially those with ASD.

Lastly- I'll point out that part of the reason I'm asking this is because I'm at a wall with him and toys. He has outgrown nearly everything he has and almost never plays with "toys" anymore- we either go outside or he helps me with some adult task like cooking or cleaning.  He likes books if I read to him- and we practice counting and shapes adn such with books, but he's very impatient and won't sit still on one page for very long, and I haven't seen any progress from him in the last year with regards to counting and letters. I got him a leapfrog Tag reader on clearance but he can't work it yet. I've tried Memory card games to no avail. Candyland is above his head (although he is always happy to "play") He gets bored easily and I'm running out of ways to entertain him indoors- and a cold MN winter looms..

 Any anectodal advice? Sorry if this is long and rambling, there's multiple issues involved.. My gut says that the answer is, as with most things "wait and see" and he'll come around when he's ready. H

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Re: Can't decide if I should introduce electronics.. DS is bored.

  • mfisher123mfisher123
    We have been encourged by our vision therapist (and others, but her specifically) to let our daughter use technology to help her "learn". We invested in an iPad 2 a few months ago, and this therapist has given us several free (or close to free) app suggestions that will help DD with her visual tracking, motor planning, problem solving, and just overall learning. Her speech therapist recommended we use the "your baby can read" dvd series as well. So, I personally don't have a problem introducing these things....but if I didn't have people telling me to, I don't know that I would just do it on my own.
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  • ToastieSimonsToastieSimons member

    We've let DS watch DVD's and TV, in minimal amounts.  He's allowed to watch Elmo while using the gait trainer/treadmill at therapy.

    The only thing I would be concerned with is that the flashing colors and bright lights would be overstimulating if he already has an inability to focus. 

    I'd be more inclined to find sensory play items to try and fulfill sensory desire.  Have you tried a huge bucket of rice and beans with trucks, measuring cups?  We have a toy like this https://www.amazon.com/Spielstabil-7905-Sand-Water-Mill/dp/B0002GTHWO and DS loves to watch me pour sand and water through it.  I'm wondering if it would work with Oatmeal or something indoor friendly.  From what you've said he likes more task oriented play.  I would think it would be more fun for you to hide a number of things in containers for him to find and to help learn him count (EX: hide 3 cars in a container of rice and have him find 3 items).  What about scavenger hunt type games to help him focus and count and about learning task reward?  To me that seems more of an intro to game playing that electronic games?  You could make simply cards up with pictures of items (I would just get felt or colored posterboard and cut out shapes, yellow squares, red circle, etc), give him a hint and have him find that item.  Obviously you may have to remind him multiple times, but it would help with direction and learning shapes and colors. And when he finds it I would reward with lots of positive praise, making up silly songs about the object.  Then you could work up to challenging him to find other red things, or round objects.

    To my boys:  I will love you for you Not for what you have done or what you will become I will love you for you I will give you the love The love that you never knew
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  • MirandaHobbesMirandaHobbes member
    imageToastieSimons:

    We've let DS watch DVD's and TV, in minimal amounts.  He's allowed to watch Elmo while using the gait trainer/treadmill at therapy.

    The only thing I would be concerned with is that the flashing colors and bright lights would be overstimulating if he already has an inability to focus. 

    I'd be more inclined to find sensory play items to try and fulfill sensory desire.  Have you tried a huge bucket of rice and beans with trucks, measuring cups?  We have a toy like this https://www.amazon.com/Spielstabil-7905-Sand-Water-Mill/dp/B0002GTHWO and DS loves to watch me pour sand and water through it.  I'm wondering if it would work with Oatmeal or something indoor friendly.  From what you've said he likes more task oriented play.  I would think it would be more fun for you to hide a number of things in containers for him to find and to help learn him count (EX: hide 3 cars in a container of rice and have him find 3 items).  What about scavenger hunt type games to help him focus and count and about learning task reward?  To me that seems more of an intro to game playing that electronic games?  You could make simply cards up with pictures of items (I would just get felt or colored posterboard and cut out shapes, yellow squares, red circle, etc), give him a hint and have him find that item.  Obviously you may have to remind him multiple times, but it would help with direction and learning shapes and colors. And when he finds it I would reward with lots of positive praise, making up silly songs about the object.  Then you could work up to challenging him to find other red things, or round objects.

    These are great suggestions- and sortof what I started thinking about after I re-read my post. He loves task-oriented stuff, and he would always prefer to play with me rather than alone. So if I were to actually get myself motivated to do some of these things I think he'd love it!

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  • SobachkaSobachka

    We use ABA to learn to play with toys appropriately. A lot of pretend play with what we have, simple games (go fish - learning that), hungry hippos.

    We play with picture cards and draw out our stories, we play chase and hide and seek a lot (he needs to pay attention to me). We play Russian finger games.

    We do watch TV (sometimes too much, but it's just me, and sometimes I need to pee), but we discuss every episode we watch, we pause to ask questions about what we see on the screen or we re-tell the episode afterwards. I record a lot of nature shows, animal planet and such.

    I use my iphone ONLY when we are waiting and he is overwhelmed, because he sort of stims on it.

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