"He decided to join us" were words my husband said to me over the weekend. We had taken G down to the Strong museum of play in Rochester. For about the first 2 hours we were there G was very content in some very unusual play. First it was at the stage area being a ticket taker, just handing out tickets and retrieving tickets. He was very content with that, he engaged other kids a couple of times for about 30 seconds each time. He got very angry if a child attempted to take the tickets away from him or didn't give the tickets right back.
After that was the post office, for about 45 minutes he was content with putting mail in post office boxes and collecting the mail from the drop box. This play repeated itself over and over, again not engaging other children or even his own parents. If we got in his way he would move us. If he needed help he would struggle till we asked if he needed help.
They had a children's singer in about 30 feet away from him, the music was loud the children were loud he never noticed. He glanced over it didn't excite him so therefore it wasn't happening to him.
The next area of interest was the big plane, here is where he actively kinda engaged us. He put his father in one spot and me in another. This was when my husband made the statement of he decided to join us. Then he went to his own world.
Then he asked to go to the train, yeah he said he wanted to do something. He rode on the kiddy train, then played with the train table, again solitary never acknowledged any other kids. Very happy with his solitary play.
Our last area was Sesame Street, there is a taxi cab a favorite of all the kids, G is no exception. He got in and didn't want to leave the drivers seat, but would when reminded. Then it was off to the time clock, nice repetitive put time card in get it stamped, put in have it stamped.
We had to lead him away, not kicking and screaming, but still he wasn't willing to leave that day. We maybe got to 1/4 of the interactive areas. Maybe next time he will allow us in his world and we can do more.
