Video games?

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I noticed an interesting thing about my 8 year old who has Asperger's ...

while he is physically clumsy (has trouble riding a bike, isn't very good at sports, etc.) he easily masters video games, almost from the moment he begins to play them.

When he uses the computers at the health club (which have numerous games on them), I often come back to pick him up and there is a crowd of kids around him watching him play.

I used to play a game called Marble Madness on the Mac, and got pretty good at it. I think after a few weeks of playing off and on, I got to level 15 or so.

After 3 hours of playing, my 8 year old was to level 21.

It seems Asperger's allows for intense focus that NTs simply don't have. But while he is clumsy in a whole body sense, he has excellent dexterity in the hands and fingers.

has anyone else experienced this?

In some cases, people on the spectrum lack gross motor skills, but fine motor skills aren't impacted so much. Then again, a lot of people here talk about having bad hand writing.

I've noticed in RPGs, I tend to have been able to have levelled faster than my friends for a very simple reason. There are often multiple ways to level; however, generally they are split into two categories:
Long + fun + enjoyable - these will also often include "party" activities (working in groups etc).
Fast, but incredibly repetitive and sometimes boring.

Hope this explains it.

My six year old son can't tie his shoes or button his shorts but he can play ANY video game and beat most adults. He also is super good on the computer since he was about age 3...

Since 3? Gawd damn.

My 8 year old daughter is not good with video games, they just frustrate her.

When DS was 8, this was the case. He has since figured out which games frustrate him less, and has used those to learn on and get better so he can play more ordinary ones. It took him several years, though.

My son is almost four. We are currently having him tested. Asperger's most closely matches his symptoms.

But, He has an old Nintendo DS that used to be mine and at three years old he easily beats levels, gains acheivements and excels, yet he trips walking down the hall to his bedroom!

I don't know if this helps but I guess I'm just saying, US TOO!

My 8 year old Autistic son can not read, write and has limited speech but give him an xbox and he can navigate menus, join servers and complete adult games. He's our little genius

In my experience practice is the key. General motor skills are slightly lacking because I never really used them. Put in a bit of practice and I quickly get better.

Bud is also an Aspie, and also very good with the video games.

He has had very poor hand dexterity for a long time, but he has always been good at handling game controlers and pressing the right buttons. I like to think that this has helped his dexterity a bit. He can now tie his shoes, cut his own food, and even put together "gimp" lanyards - all things that he was unable to do properly or adequately a few years ago.

I suppose the video games were a form of practice for him? I don't advocate having him spend hours a day with the X box controller in his hand, but a little bit can't hurt the kid, especially if he enjoys it!

I am a High Function Aspie and I can do Videos Games I didn't want to do sports. I good at Racing Games.



Here are some of my Videos
http://youtu.be/aGxo5m44BC4
http://youtu.be/i__3OXzJvSw

My son is the same way. He has gross and fine motor delays. Can't ride a bike, can't tie his shoes, but he is crazy good at video games.

Myself, was delayed in tieing my shoes and riding a bike. However, growing up I could beat any Mario level on the NES and SNES easily. I am very good at many offline non-multiplayer games. Online games, a lot of people have them down to a science and can coordinate their thoughts to every factor of the current dynamic situation and adjust their gameplay to the optimum success; can't do it unless I play one game for too long. Oddly, I still can't type without looking at the keyboard.

Now-a-days, at 25, I am still horrible in my coordination for sports. Especially ones that require a tool as an extension of oneself. Thus, am always chosen last in my community games when i show up; which is understandable (just sucks if I end up with a very competitive teammate).

No matter how many sessions of Ultimate Frisbee I've played I still can't be counted on to receive a pass. Though passing the Frisbee is easier, since people are mobile, they get themselves to my passes (when done badly).

Basketball, awesome in stealing and defense; horrible at shooting and rebounding. Rebounds are an interesting dilemma, I don't want to challenge the hustle-and-the-bustle of physical prowess that people exploit under the hoop's rim; more of a mental block.

Soccer, I seem much more coordinated in this sport for some reason. Even though I play it the least.

Football, too much is happening at once for me to process. You'd think a game that has everything planned before the play starts would be easier on an Aspie. However, once I am running ahead to get myself where I was told to do, I can't pay attention to the thrower and to whom is covering me, and find a method to free myself of the defender with the current hustle of players covering the ground. Defense is worse, I can't pay attention to the person I am covering and check if his guy is going to pass it to him or not.

Boxing, sometimes my timely ADD and out-of-body awareness lets me take my time and catch other people's mistakes. But against a good player on his toes, I end up to defensive with their pace.

Hey there fellow Gamers!
I turned out to be pretty good at video games, better than most of my family.
I love RPGS, but lately I have been in love with Little Big Planet 1 &2.
It lets you build your own levels and even connect them to create your own game!
If I'd had this when I was a kid, it might have made my life easier.
Having an interactive visual meduim in which to BUILD what I wanted to say,
and other people could SEE what I meant would have been so much better.

My 7 year old son is very good at computer and video games. He has loved the computer since he was VERY young. He also puts together intricate things with legos, and is great at puzzles. On the flip side he has terrible handwriting and can't tie his shoes.