Lining objects, when extreme?

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-09-2004
Lining objects, when extreme?
7
Fri, 01-27-2006 - 10:33pm
So my son has been lining up objects more and more. But lately EVERY single line is a "train track" for him. It doesn't matter... food, cars, toys, crack in the sidewalk etc. He lines them up and says it is a train track. Last night I FREAKED he took three motorcycles and lined them up, then he broke his crackers so evenly and made this weird lined sculpture thing.
What can I do to distract him? Sometimes he will play with the toys, but it seems as though other times he is spacing out and doing these things.
iVillage Member
Registered: 12-20-2004
Fri, 01-27-2006 - 10:39pm

I have a quirky going on 4 yr. old DS who lines things up. I think it's normal, and yes, it's a AS thing too. I have an adopted brother (age 9) w/ AS. I haven't seen him line things up for many years though. As far as my son goes, when he was about 2.5, I walked into the room to see VCR tapes all lined up, bottom side up. I felt like the rug had been pulled out from under my feet. I may have cried about it later, or stressed out about it, but then it dawned on me that to DS, they were just large dominoes! Whew! Right? Well, maybe not. DS stilllll likes to line things up, but I do not feel he's out of control with it.

I like order in things, and feel it's completely normal--and even better to be this way as it keeps me organized. But I line up yogurts in the fridge, etc etc. Everything has a place. But I am not OCD about it.

It doesn't sound like the extreme to me. I've never heard an extreme case with lining up objects. Maybe someone can share their story?

Sorry--not of much help here!
Melanie
Vinny almost 4
Natalia almost 2

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-26-2005
Fri, 01-27-2006 - 11:57pm
Hi,
Jake never lined things up but my DD(19months) has just started to do it and it's freaking me out. She dosen't do it everyday but when she does it sends alarm bells off in my head because of my DS. I do know it's a normal part of development so I'm hoping it's just a phase.
Teresa
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-24-2004
Sat, 01-28-2006 - 7:31am

Hi,


Jack went through a lining things up phase which only lasted about 6 months and it wasn't extreme.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 02-24-2004
Sat, 01-28-2006 - 11:46am

I wouldn't worry so much about the lining up. This is just their way of making some kind of order in their life. Our world is just so hectic at times, and this is what calms them. Nathan usually does this if he's stressed. But even when when he's not stressed, I do still see "little" things lined up in his room. The longer the line...the more stressed!! LOL

michelle

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-24-2005
Sat, 01-28-2006 - 4:10pm

Michelle,

I agree. I just think of lining up as a kind of therapy for Chase. It calms him and he's not hurting anyone. It used to occur more often and at first it was disconcerting but he has AS so it's just part of who he is. Problems do arise when his siblings decide to rearrange or borrow a toy that he is using and then we just have to negotiate. Vicky

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Sat, 01-28-2006 - 9:24pm

Hey there,

I have 2 liners. One autistic and one not autistic but ADHD.

Lining objects as far as autism becomes a problem when that is their play because they don't have play skills. Or when moving or interupting this lining becomes a behavior problem. Any time you have a repepitive type behavior that you can't redirect it is a problem.

Cait lined because she didn't know how to play. She stopped lining somewhere around kindergarten. She regressed and started lining again at the end of 1st grade when she was really stressed. she still likes to order things sometimes but it is different. She doesn't line anymore. I think it is an executive function thing and lack there of.

Dave lined. He did alot of lining. Maybe more than Cait. He did it when overstimulated and stressed. he would make intricate contraptions ordering things. He would also dump big things in piles and line boxes. It was a mix of sensory seeking activity and the need to order his world that was out of order too. he is ADHD.

Renee

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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-09-2003
Mon, 01-30-2006 - 2:27pm
Jake (2.5) is a liner, however when we had him evaluated he was not diagnosed as Autistic. (Just sensory processing disorder, and apraxia). He definately lines things up more when he's stressed or tired. He does this a lot through out the day, but I was told as long as he does play in other ways too, that I dont' need to worry. Jake will line anything - cars, food, chairs (yes, kitchen chairs), boxes, etc. Anything he can get his hands on. A new thing lately has been him barracading himself into rooms with stuff. He'll just get a bunch of different things and pile them in the doorway to the room. He also get's a bunch of stuff and piles it in the middle of the rooms too. He'll use anything he can for that as well. The piles in the middle of the room he calls a "house", so i guess that's imaginative right? Jake also does get upset if you move his stuff once he's set it up. After awhile though, he doesn't care if it's moved (maybe a few hours, or once he's absorbed into some other project). When he's lining, he get's very aggressive if anyone moves the objects and will hit or yell. He get's very focused on it, and is not easy to redirect (sometimes down right impossible). But he does do other appropriate play as well, so we just let him be. HTH.