Quick answer: Special needs interest shifts can be normal for a child with special needs to love something for a season, then like it less later. It can be normal for a child with special needs to love something for a season, then like it less later. I try to reframe it as growth, keep the choice in their hands, and remember it can still be a meaningful part of their life.
What she loved, she may not love so much anymore
I used to feel bad, but I am teaching myself that I don’t need to.
I used to think, why is she asking to stop doing something she previously wanted to do? Or why isn’t she so into that thing that she loved so much before?
But as I think about it, I realize that like other kids who don’t have special needs, she is just trying things out. Seeing how it feels, seeing what she likes, seeing where they fit in her life, and that’s okay.
We all do this and better put, we all GET the chance to do this, so why not our kids?
Maybe the activity requires too much motor planning. Maybe it requires too much thinking, but the activity can be tried out.
(If you want therapist-led ideas and parent resources, the TalkTools Free Resource Library is a helpful place to start: https://talktools.com/pages/resource-library.)
And it’s okay if it isn’t something that stays the biggest piece of her life, even if it looked like it was going to be.
A shift does not mean a loss
I’m learning as she grows older to see things as taking or being part of her life, not the biggest part, not the largest part, not the overwhelming part, but just part of her life.
For example, her artwork was such a big part during COVID. It’s not something she likes to do. Not as much as she used to do prior, but she still likes to paint and create things. And that is okay.
She is still creating and learning.
It is part of her life.
And like all of us, her interests change.
As we grow, our life changes.
That’s important to remember, and I am saying this to myself as well. We need to remember that our children are so very similar to everyone else in many ways, and this is one of them.
So maybe they LOVED something before but only LIKE it now, that is ok.
Our kids deserve the choice to change their path
I can remember many people who were certain that they were going to get their degree in one thing but ended up getting in an entirely different field, and they had the choice to change their path to something that was a better fit.
Our kids need that choice as well.
And even though Elizabeth is 26, I am still learning and growing right beside her.
I wish everyone a peaceful month.
Michele Gianetti.
FAQ
Is it normal for a child with special needs to lose interest in a favorite activity?
Yes. Interests can shift over time, and that can be part of healthy growth.
What if the activity is too hard because of motor planning or effort?
It can still be worth trying, but it is also okay to scale it back or move on if it overwhelms them.
How can I support my child without pushing too hard?
Treat it as “part of life” instead of “the biggest part,” and keep the choice in your child’s hands.