Does your child share my daughter's obsessions?

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My daughter is obsessed with Miraculous (Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir), Adventure Time, Angry Birds (especially the movie) and Linkin Park. Last year was all about Harvey Beaks.

Many autistic people have obsessions which we commonly refer to as "special interests," or SI's. These can be quite literally anything that peaks our interest. They can range from broad subjects, like biology, to smaller niches, like domestic feline genetics, and often includes a strong desire to harness as much information on the topic as possible, even if that includes watching / reading / searching the same things over and over again.

Special interests can be temporary fixations, or they can be life-long pursuits of information. They differ from "regular" interests in the level of intensity, something which can also vary from SI to SI. The amount of interest and / or time dedicated to each SI can also fluctuate over time as one grows and their tastes change.

For instance, Harry Potter used to be my top priority, but now I don't really consider it an SI at all, but Sonic the Hedgehog has been a main interest of mine for over ten years. I couldn't tell you why it is so fascinating to me, but that does not change the fact I have willingly dedicated days worth of time to playing the games, watching the shows, and viewing and producing fan-content, so I am guessing it is a similar case to your daughter's interest in these cartoons.

With the right direction, special interests can even be turned into careers or paths of study.

Hope this was helpful!

I call my passions special interests. I like things to do with the 60s and 40s. I also have a love for music and classic television.