My son came up with this...

[Kristy102]

First of all, let me explain that my son has a disorder called aspergers sydrome. It's similar to partial autism and causes him to be socially disconnected and obsessive about one subject, when he was 4-5 he would make me read to him about dinosaurs every night and wouldn't talk to anyone his own age. He's 12 now and just recently he wrote this:

If A, then B
If A, then C
Not B
Not C
: Not A
If (not A), then D
If D, then (E or F)
: E or F
Not E
If (not E), then F
If (A and E), then F
: F
If F, then G
If G, then H
If H, then I
If [not (C or D)], then Not (H or I)
If[not (H or I)], then J
: J
J
If J, then K
If (J and K), then (not L)
: Not L
If (not L), then M
If M, then O
If P, then Q
: Q
If Q, then R
If R, then S
: S
S
If S, then T
If T, then U
If U, then V
: V
A: only 3 dimensions exist
B: the universe is in stasis
C: actions do not exist
D: actions exist
E: time has one dimension
F: time has more than one dimension
G: the dimensions of time relate to the dimensions of space
H: time is 3-dimensional
I: space cannot be expressed finitely in relation to time
J: time cannot be expressed finitely in relation to space
K: time and space must be expressed infinantly when related
L: space is infinant
N: time is infinant
O: time and space can be expressed as an infinant objects
P: infinant objects must loop
Q: time and space must loop
R: objects that loop are finite
S: time and space are contained in a finite object
T: anything contained in a finite object can be infinant
U: there are infinant numbers between 1 and 2
V: an infinant amount of time and space can be contained in a finite object


I have no idea what to do about it this. Should I encourage this kind of obsession?

 

[Deamiter]

I have some experience with children with aspergers, but unfortunately, I have little in the way of advice here. My gut feeling is that it's not a problem. I'm amazed by his understanding of logic (not that it's perfect) -- but it's not that uncommon for people with this disorder to be obsessive about such things...

Living with a child with aspergers is hard -- often VERY hard. I would suggest that you talk to your child's specialist about it because though I have experience with similar children, it becomes very complicated when you start trying to guide their lives as a parent... Not very helpful, but I AM impressed by this logic! It's the sort of thing I really enjoy.

 

[Euryale]

If you want a critique then I'm afraid the statements in the logic sequence are mathematically/physically incorrect.

 

[Deamiter]

Right -- but I think the point is that it's a 12 year old kid who feels at home describing the world through logical statements... That's aspergers for you!

I'm going to move this to the autism forum under struggles and depression -- it'll be more likely to get relevant answers there.

 

[Cat59]

Kristy, my 15 year old has aspergers
I found over the years that discouraging his obsessions doesn't work and can actually stress him out so much he ends up getting worse and regressing to things he used to do, which doesn't help at all.
What we have tried to do is to look for other things that remotely catch his interest and then try and reinfoce these- sometimes if necessary with the very obsessions we want to decrease..
If you have someone working with him, in school or outside, chat with them about it.
Cat

 

[Robert the Pilegrim]

First of all, let me explain that my son has a disorder called aspergers sydrome. It's similar to partial autism and causes him to be socially disconnected and obsessive about one subject, when he was 4-5 he would make me read to him about dinosaurs every night and wouldn't talk to anyone his own age. He's 12 now and just recently he wrote this:

If A, then B
If A, then C
Not B
Not C
: Not A
If (not A), then D
If D, then (E or F)

snip

A: only 3 dimensions exist
B: the universe is in stasis
C: actions do not exist
D: actions exist
E: time has one dimension

snip

I have no idea what to do about it this. Should I encourage this kind of obsession?

First be amazed and love your child*. Then find somebody(ies) who deals with aspergers and see what they think.

My highly uneducated inclination would be that encouraging obsession is not a good idea, but neither is being over negative about it.

*I'm sure you already knew that, but you did ask and that is what jumped to mind.

Peace,
Robert

 

[Benedicta00]

The extraordinary is not uncommon for these children. It's the ordinary they have trouble with. As parents we long for the simple and ordinary, not the extraordinary.

A child can have all the intelligence in the world but if they do not know how to cross the street, what good is it to them?

 

[Benedicta00]

Kristy, my 15 year old has aspergers
I found over the years that discouraging his obsessions doesn't work and can actually stress him out so much he ends up getting worse and regressing to things he used to do, which doesn't help at all.
What we have tried to do is to look for other things that remotely catch his interest and then try and reinfoce these- sometimes if necessary with the very obsessions we want to decrease..
If you have someone working with him, in school or outside, chat with them about it.
Cat

I agree and also find that in my own child. The behaviors and obsessions are a stress relief and a coping mechanism for them.

 

[ninetails390]

Wow! He's a year younger than me and he came up with that! *eyes spin* According to my therapist, I've got Asperger's, sooo...I kinda know what it's like to be really obsessive about things (for me its Japan and creative arts). I'd say just encourage him...he could develop a new theorum or something someday if he can do that when he's 12!

 

[JesseRaymondBassett]

I agree. Your child is blessed. Myself having Aspergers-Autism, I have a few obsessions:

1.) The internet
2.) Writing
3.) Christianity
4.) Music

Now none of these obsessions are wrong, in fact, they are perfectly normal. I feel blessed to have Autism. Love your child for who he/she is, nurture them, encourage them, and pray for them. That is my advice.

 

[Zaul]

I reckon you should encourage his intelligence but also steer it in the right direction rather than proving these wierd A,b,c things :O

 

[Nightstrike]

i can't comment on the subject, but if I were you I would get him some physics textbooks, he sounds very bright

 

[Young Christian]

Allow him to get on with it, I say. If people were prevented from continuing with these things, the World wouldn't have the geniuses it has and has had today.