4 yr old doesn't play.

[Samantha33]

I noticed last week that a dcb I've had since he was 15 months old doesn't play toys. He did app. 8 months ago but has slowly been getting to the point of not playing. I didn't really notice before because I always tried to get him involved by play doh, coloring, crafts (not big on them) potato head, puzzles. Now it's very noticeable because all he does is sit on a chair or lay on the floor and roll around getting in everyone's way. He doesn't play with the garages or cars, or blocks or pirate ship etc. The only thing he wants to play with is his angry birds. He brings them for quiet-time. "Allllllllll" he talks about is Angry Birds. "Nothing Else!" I want him to be able to play by himself with other toys. His Mom commented one day how she has to play with him and occupy him all the time at home. His Dad or brother always play with him. He is very self centered. Everything is about him and only him. He's not a mean child though. Very gentle with the others. Very smart. Quick to learn. I'm sick and tired of every word that comes out of his mouth is Angry Birds this or that. OCD Angry Birds. Really!. What should I do to get him to play with the toys by himself without me being present? I must say at quiet time he goes and plays with the other little girl who does not nap and they play toys. I am not present. So I can't figure this one out. Any suggestions.

[torontokids]

Sounds like Aspergers (typically super smart, they struggle socially and become fixated on certain things e.g. angry birds, trains, star wars). You mentioned how he is smart and how gentle he can be. Can you put him in more of a leader role now and have him initiate play with the little kids? This will also give him a chance to practice those skills as well (turn taking etc) but in a teaching role which will still reinforce this for him. I worked with one kid who was obsessed with star wars and angry birds. It was definitely annoying but the other kids looked up to him and he was quite creative so he would lead them in "star wars" games outside where he would train them to be jedi knights which was pretty cute. I also bought a few star wars books etc and gave him special privileges e.g he was allowed to play in the gates kitchen as he was big and he could work on big kids things without interference.

[AmandaKDT]

Are there any other kinds of toys that he might have more interest in? Something he could do at the kitchen table or behind a gate away from the little ones if it is something with smaller pieces? My nephew is 4.5 years old and has high functioning autism (asperger's) and he obsesses too. He doesn't really play toys with others that well either, unless it is what he wants to do. He won't do play doh or crafts either but he does enjoy Lego and playing with action figures, etc. Like TorontoKids wrote, if there was some way you could get him to initiate the play with the other kids you might have more success. Perhaps he could invite one of the kids to come play a particular toy or activity with him in a special area?