Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCauses Related to AutismOther CausesSignificanceHow to Help
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes Related to Autism
Other Causes
Significance
How to Help
Autistic people, at every age and severity level, tend to be “young for their age.” In other words, they have at least some interests, behaviors, and emotional responses that would be expected in a much younger person.
Often these differences are mild enough or unobtrusive enough that they do not cause problems. Sometimes, however, age-inappropriate interests and behaviors can interfere with the autistic person’s ability to fulfill their goals. When that happens, it’s possible to take constructive action.
How Autism Can Lead to Age-Inappropriate Interests and Behaviors
Some of the core traits of autism include:
All of these traits can, in many instances, lead to age-inappropriate interests and behaviors. The good news is that there are many ways to help your child develop more sophisticated interests and behaviors without asking them to give up their passions.
Rigidity and Need for Routine
Once an autistic child has learned and mastered a particular routine, it can be very difficult for them to change it. However, in the United States, children are expected to master multiple routines at once: a home routine, a school routine, and a summer routine. And these routines change constantly.
The kindergarten routine may include learning centers and nap time, while the first-grade routine may include lining up at the cafeteria and sitting still in rows.
For an autistic child, the change can be overwhelming, especially if it comes without warning. The outcome can be age-inappropriate behaviors or interests that come from well-learned and well-loved routines.
Lack of Imitative Skills or Awareness of Expectations
But autistic children don’t always learn through imitation. Instead, they tend to learn through direct instruction. In other words, they don’t look around, observe their peers, and try to “fit in,” though they may be able to learn expected behaviors if they are taught.
That means an autistic child may be completely unaware that their peers have moved past “Curious George” and are on to TikTok. What’s more, if they are told that this is the case, they may not care very much.
Perseverative Behaviors
The terms “perseverative behaviors” or “stereotypic behaviors” sometimes refer tostimming behaviors—self-calming movements such as rocking or pacing, mumbling, etc. They can also refer to well-established behavioral routines that can quickly become age-inappropriate.
It may take longer for an autistic child to, for example, end thumb-sucking, complete toilet learning, stop carrying around stuffed animals, or stop crying when frustrated. They have a need to do the same thing, in the same way, over and over again. Instead of feeling excited about new toys or interests, they may repeat the tried and true.
Managing Repetitive Behaviors in Autism
Special Interests or Passions
This is one reason why older autistic children may still be dedicated to Thomas the Tank Engine or Sesame Street long after their same-age peers have moved on to more sophisticated interests.
Emotional Immaturity
There is a myth that autistic people lack emotion. In fact, most autistic people have very strong emotions.
Often, autism makes it hard to manage feelings of frustration, fear, or anxiety. The outcome can be emotional outbursts sometimes known as “meltdowns.”
Meltdownsare relatively common even among autistic people with low support needs. They can be the result of sensory overload, anxiety (which is common among autistic people), or frustration.
It is not unusual for an autistic teen who is otherwise bright and capable to suddenly explode in anger or burst into tears, very much like a small child.
Understanding Anxiety in Autistic People
Causes Related to Socialization, Education, and Therapies
Many autistic children are educated in small settings designed for their needs. They are protected from potentially negative interactions, and provided with therapies that support the idea that every positive behavior will be rewarded.
In many cases, the bar is lowered for autistic children. They may not be taught the same skills as their peers, and they may be included in activities that require little or no competition.
These experiences have the potential to keep autistic children from learning the social, physical, and emotional skills they need to engage appropriately with their typical peers.
Autistic children may be offered opportunities toengage in sportswithout fully understanding how a game is played and without demonstrating the skills required to play the game correctly. They may be included in school plays without being asked to learn lines or manage their own costume changes.
They may be part of “buddy” programs that suggest a level of mutual friendship that doesn’t really exist. These experiences, while pleasant, make it easy for an autistic child to avoid the hard work of skill-building that is part of their typical peers’ lives.
If a child is engaged with age-inappropriate activities, therefore, the therapist or coach will engage with the child. This sets up an assumption that the activity is appropriate in any setting.
Applied Behavioral Analysis
ABA Therapy for Autism: Benefits and Examples
Why Age-Appropriate Interests and Behaviors Matter
While many adults are interested in and participate in activities that reflect their childhood interests, they do so with an adult perspective and sensibility. The same is true of older children and teens, who may remember their childhood passions fondly but are unlikely to take The Wiggles seriously as a musical group.
When autistic children, teens, and adults think and behave like young children, they are likely to distance themselves from their same-age peers, creating a less-than-equal relationship and, in some cases, alienating potential friend
Repetition of childlike interests, especially when combined with childlike behaviors, can also have a negative impact on:
In the long run, age-inappropriate behavior can undermine an autistic person even if that person is intelligent, articulate, hard-working, and good-natured.
Increasing Age-Appropriate Interests and Behaviors
That means some autistic individuals can find like-minded friends who are just as passionate as they are. The definition of age-inappropriate has changed, and that’s a good thing for autistic teens and adults.
It is, however, important for them to understand that teen and adult interests are expressed differently from childhood interests. Here are some tips for helping your child do so.
Parents Can Help Their Autistic Child Have Age-Appropriate Interests
Summary
Autistic people may have age-inappropriate interests and behaviors. This may be due to aspects of the condition itself or may develop due to the influence of socialization, education, or therapies.
Age-inappropriate interests and behaviors can have a negative impact on many aspects of life. Parents can help an autistic child to channel their passions and interests to those more appropriate for their age.
3 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Poljac E, Hoofs V, Princen MM, Poljac E.Understanding behavioural rigidity in autism spectrum conditions: the role of intentional control.J Autism Dev Disord. 2017;47(3):714-727. doi:10.1007/s10803-016-3010-3Sappok T, Heinrich M, Böhm J.The impact of emotional development in people with autism spectrum disorder and intellectual developmental disability.J Intellect Disabil Res. 2020;64(12):946-955. doi:10.1111/jir.12785Smerbeck A.The Survey of Favorite Interests and Activities: assessing and understanding restricted interests in children with autism spectrum disorder.Autism. 2019;23(1):247-259. doi:10.1177/1362361317742140
3 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Poljac E, Hoofs V, Princen MM, Poljac E.Understanding behavioural rigidity in autism spectrum conditions: the role of intentional control.J Autism Dev Disord. 2017;47(3):714-727. doi:10.1007/s10803-016-3010-3Sappok T, Heinrich M, Böhm J.The impact of emotional development in people with autism spectrum disorder and intellectual developmental disability.J Intellect Disabil Res. 2020;64(12):946-955. doi:10.1111/jir.12785Smerbeck A.The Survey of Favorite Interests and Activities: assessing and understanding restricted interests in children with autism spectrum disorder.Autism. 2019;23(1):247-259. doi:10.1177/1362361317742140
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Poljac E, Hoofs V, Princen MM, Poljac E.Understanding behavioural rigidity in autism spectrum conditions: the role of intentional control.J Autism Dev Disord. 2017;47(3):714-727. doi:10.1007/s10803-016-3010-3Sappok T, Heinrich M, Böhm J.The impact of emotional development in people with autism spectrum disorder and intellectual developmental disability.J Intellect Disabil Res. 2020;64(12):946-955. doi:10.1111/jir.12785Smerbeck A.The Survey of Favorite Interests and Activities: assessing and understanding restricted interests in children with autism spectrum disorder.Autism. 2019;23(1):247-259. doi:10.1177/1362361317742140
Poljac E, Hoofs V, Princen MM, Poljac E.Understanding behavioural rigidity in autism spectrum conditions: the role of intentional control.J Autism Dev Disord. 2017;47(3):714-727. doi:10.1007/s10803-016-3010-3
Sappok T, Heinrich M, Böhm J.The impact of emotional development in people with autism spectrum disorder and intellectual developmental disability.J Intellect Disabil Res. 2020;64(12):946-955. doi:10.1111/jir.12785
Smerbeck A.The Survey of Favorite Interests and Activities: assessing and understanding restricted interests in children with autism spectrum disorder.Autism. 2019;23(1):247-259. doi:10.1177/1362361317742140
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