My son is OBSESSED with letters

[malamute]

And also, there will be things his sister will have that she won't want to share either.

It's easier if some toys are meant to share, the toys with co-ownership must be shared, the others don't have to be.

It was funny, when my twins were infants, they had "almost" look alike blankets they were given as newborns and even at a couple months of age, they would not tolerate a switch of those blankets - they each knew their own blanket and didn't want to use the other's nor see the other using theirs. Adults can be the same way -- possessiveness over certain things is normal.

[nuala]

I can relate as my son was fascinated with letters and numbers since he was 2. On his first days of pre-school, at 2.5, the teacher asks what songs the kids like, -- expecting "Old MacDonald" and the like. My son starts singing "ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOP...".

But, that year of pre-school was really too early for him. With all his numbers and letters, he was not emotionally up to any structured environment.

One other outlet I found for him - let him type sometimes on the computer, in the Paint program that comes with Windows. He would sit and type in large letters, fulfilling his "letter need":

HOUSE
DAD
TRUCK
EVIL ( )
1+1=2
1+6=16
1+7=17

etc.

The "territorial" behavior is getting worse lately, as the kids are 4 and 6 They manage to fight over any small things, over a branch a leaf -- with thousands of other branches and leaves around Not speaking about toys even... Some days, it's like they are determined to drive me insane with their fights and tattling

[floridadreamer]

Originally Posted by nuala

The "territorial" behavior is getting worse lately, as the kids are 4 and 6 They manage to fight over any small things, over a branch a leaf -- with thousands of other branches and leaves around Not speaking about toys even... Some days, it's like they are determined to drive me insane with their fights and tattling

No kidding. Everyone says to me, that I am so lucky to have them close together (18months apart). But what they don't seem to realize, is that now I have to play referee pretty much non stop. Yeah it's great they can sleep in the same room, and they have a blast in the car together just doing silly things and he makes my daughter giggle a lot. Life was so much calmer when there was only one, especially since he could literally keep himself occupied for hours. Everything from reading out the numbers and letters, writing them, playing on the v-smile, and of course I'd read him books which he'd love now, but back then he'd just turn the pages really fast.

I know they are a blessing, but yeah, some days insanity seems likely at some point.

[nuala]

Originally Posted by floridadreamer

No kidding. Everyone says to me, that I am so lucky to have them close together (18months apart). But what they don't seem to realize, is that now I have to play referee pretty much non stop. Yeah it's great they can sleep in the same room, and they have a blast in the car together just doing silly things and he makes my daughter giggle a lot. Life was so much calmer when there was only one, especially since he could literally keep himself occupied for hours. Everything from reading out the numbers and letters, writing them, playing on the v-smile, and of course I'd read him books which he'd love now, but back then he'd just turn the pages really fast.

I know they are a blessing, but yeah, some days insanity seems likely at some point.

Hey mine are 19 months apart and it was ME who thought I was lucky. (Well, I still think, in the back of my mind). If you haven't read "Siblings Without Rivalry", please do, before they drive you insane. That book keeps me sane... thanks goodness! Even though some car drives are becoming hair-standing affairs. ABSOLUTELY the same feeling - them being close and giggles and constant playing together, - but the fights, the whining!

[floridadreamer]

Originally Posted by nuala

Hey mine are 19 months apart and it was ME who thought I was lucky. (Well, I still think, in the back of my mind). If you haven't read "Siblings Without Rivalry", please do, before they drive you insane. That book keeps me sane... thanks goodness! Even though some car drives are becoming hair-standing affairs. ABSOLUTELY the same feeling - them being close and giggles and constant playing together, - but the fights, the whining!

OMG- the whining!! Thanks, I'll look around for that book, suppose the library should have it too.

[Aklein24]

I know this is from a while ago. But I havethe same thing going on with my son. He will be 3 in Jan. He has know his numbers and letters since he was a 11/2. But has gotten really obsessed the last 6 mo's. I took all of hisnumbers andleyters away but he knows how to spell and write and read a lot of words so he is still obsessing over them. I am worried that it could be a sign of autism with things I've read. Please let me know if it got better or you did anything to help it. Please!!!

[JustJulia]

I could read by three. I'm not autistic. I also have not heard "early reader" related to autism before. What other traits do you observe that make you suspect autism?

[somebodynew]

Originally Posted by floridadreamer

I'm more concerned about him being mean over them. I know kids can get possessive over their toys, but WOW. I'm thinking of putting the letters away, and only allowing him to play with them in a more controlled way. Also bringing in some books with letters a couple of dvd's that teach reading and other things. He isn't even 3 and he knows all his letters and numbers up to 30, so I don't think it will hurt him.

WHEN you can use your letters nicely, THEN you can play with them. I am putting them away. We can try again tomorrow.

[gimme it]

Obsessions are not a problem in and of itself at that age. Rather you need to look at the whole picture. Does he make eye contact, is he social, does he have other interests, is he flexible about other things? If all these other things are fine, don't worry about it.