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Real members of MyAutismTeam have posted questions and answers that support our community guidelines, and should not be taken as medical advice. Looking for the latest medically reviewed content by doctors and experts? Visit our resource section.
A MyAutismTeam Member asked a question 💭
Syracuse, NY

My 10 year old is on the spectrum to sum it up, he functions like a 2-3 year old, our almost 3 year old is not. I'm trying to teach them both how to share appropriately, but whenever my 10 year old wants something that my 3 year old has their father immediately takes the toy/iPad from our 3 year old and gives it to our 10 year old. If our 3 year old wants something our 10 year old has (again it's always over toys or iPad) their father puts our 3 year old in timeout for having a tantrum or is… read more

November 8, 2014
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A MyAutismTeam Member

We recently had our 10 year old assessed (again), he's still between 2-3 yrs old socially and mentally, with some verbal capacity of a 5 year old. I've tried the timer routine, my husband doesn't like it, he'll always say "just let "10 yr old" have it." Just frustrating, I think he's inadvertently causing sibling resentment in the long run.

November 11, 2014
A MyAutismTeam Member

Children on the spectrum are usually 3 to 4 years socially and mentally behind, so if he is your 10...he really is 5 or 6 at most as they get older the gap will close.I am talking like 24 the gap gets smaller

November 8, 2014
A MyAutismTeam Member

That's tough. I understand what your husband is doing. I found myself doing something similar when my son was young. It took some time but I realized I wasn't doing him any favors by not teaching him to share. Teaching him that was hard. We bought a timer and when there was a dispute we would set the timer for 15 minutes and tell who ever had the toy first that they had 15 minutes left and it was someone else's turn. That worked well. Jonathan needs a warning still when his time is almost up. I usually give him 5 min heads up and he stops playing when he is told.

November 8, 2014
A MyAutismTeam Member

Also - often when I do bring it up like "our 3 year old" had the toy first my husband almost always says "our 10 yr old gets priorty because he's autistic."

November 8, 2014

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