--- title: Is It Possible to Expand a Child’s Narrow Interests? description: For parents of children who have autism spectrum disorder (ASD), one of the ongoing challenges they face is finding ways to diversify their child’s interests. image: https://blogs.thesteppingstonesgroup.com/hubfs/Is%20It%20Possible%20to%20Expand%20a%20Child%E2%80%99s%20Narrow%20Interest.jpg --- [![SSG Group Brand](https://blogs.thesteppingstonesgroup.com/hs-fs/hubfs/raw_assets/public/TheSteppingStonesGroup_February2021/images/SSG_logo.png?width=1640&height=421&name=SSG_logo.png "SSG Group Brand")](https://thesteppingstonesgroup.com/) - [Home](https://thesteppingstonesgroup.com/) - [Careers](https://thesteppingstonesgroup.com/careers/) - [Search Open Jobs](https://jobs.thesteppingstonesgroup.com/) - [Quick Apply](https://steppingstones.careercenter.smartsearch.plus/registration/) - [Transforming Support](https://thesteppingstonesgroup.com/professional-development/) - [Travel & Transform](https://thesteppingstonesgroup.com/travel/) - [Refer a friend](https://thesteppingstonesgroup.com/careers/referral-program/) - [Parents](https://thesteppingstonesgroup.com/parents/) - [Schools](https://thesteppingstonesgroup.com/schools/) - [Telepractice](https://thesteppingstonesgroup.com/telepractice/) - [Referrers](https://thesteppingstonesgroup.com/referrers/) - [About SSG](https://thesteppingstonesgroup.com/about/) - [Our Services](https://thesteppingstonesgroup.com/services/) - [Our Story](https://thesteppingstonesgroup.com/our-story/) - [Meet Our Team](https://thesteppingstonesgroup.com/our-story/#leadership_team) - [Contact](https://thesteppingstonesgroup.com/contact/) ![](https://blogs.thesteppingstonesgroup.com/hubfs/Is%20It%20Possible%20to%20Expand%20a%20Child%E2%80%99s%20Narrow%20Interest.jpg) # Is It Possible to Expand a Child’s Narrow Interests? Wed, Mar 1, 2023 [![Share on facebook](https://f.hubspotusercontent00.net/hub/7528304/hubfs/raw_assets/public/mV0_hubspot/img/facebook-color.png?width=24&name=facebook-color.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://blogs.thesteppingstonesgroup.com/en/autismservices/is-it-possible-to-expand-a-childs-narrow-interests&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook) [![Share on linkedin](https://f.hubspotusercontent00.net/hub/7528304/hubfs/raw_assets/public/mV0_hubspot/img/linkedin-color.png?width=24&name=linkedin-color.png)](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blogs.thesteppingstonesgroup.com/en/autismservices/is-it-possible-to-expand-a-childs-narrow-interests&utm_medium=social&utm_source=linkedin) [![Share on twitter](https://f.hubspotusercontent00.net/hub/7528302/hubfs/raw_assets/public/mV0_hubspot/img/twitter-color.png?width=24&name=twitter-color.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https://blogs.thesteppingstonesgroup.com/en/autismservices/is-it-possible-to-expand-a-childs-narrow-interests&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&url=https://blogs.thesteppingstonesgroup.com/en/autismservices/is-it-possible-to-expand-a-childs-narrow-interests&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&source=tweetbutton&text=) [![Share on pinterest](https://f.hubspotusercontent00.net/hub/7528304/hubfs/raw_assets/public/mV0_hubspot/img/pinterest-color.png?width=24&name=pinterest-color.png)](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://blogs.thesteppingstonesgroup.com/en/autismservices/is-it-possible-to-expand-a-childs-narrow-interests&utm_medium=social&utm_source=pinterest&media=) [![Share on email](https://f.hubspotusercontent10.net/hub/7528315/hubfs/raw_assets/public/mV0_hubspot/img/email-color.png?width=24&name=email-color.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https://blogs.thesteppingstonesgroup.com/en/autismservices/is-it-possible-to-expand-a-childs-narrow-interests&utm_medium=social&utm_source=email%20&body=Check%20out%20https://blogs.thesteppingstonesgroup.com/en/autismservices/is-it-possible-to-expand-a-childs-narrow-interests&utm_medium=social&utm_source=email) For parents of children who have autism spectrum disorder (ASD), one of the ongoing challenges they face is finding ways to diversify their child’s interests.  Many children with ASD have restricted interests, and they may be reluctant to play with unfamiliar toys or engage in unfamiliar activities. These are some approaches you can use to help your child expand his or her interests: **Rotate your child’s toys.** The more toys your child plays with—and the more varied they are—the better. Discovering new activities may help your child’s brain development and may encourage independent exploration. To foster this, you might try categorizing your child’s toy collection and bringing out different toys every week, every afternoon, or even every hour. **Encourage your child to use different toys.** Your child may need some incentive before he or she picks up a new toy and starts playing with it. Model the use of the new toy; if you can generate excitement, the child will be more likely to seek out that toy in the future. **Give your child a choice.** You can encourage your child to try out a new toy for the first time by presenting it as a choice between several toys. For example, you might place a number of toys on a shelf in your child’s room and tell your child that he or she can pick one to play with for the next hour. Tags: [Autism](https://blogs.thesteppingstonesgroup.com/en/autismservices/tag/autism), [ASD](https://blogs.thesteppingstonesgroup.com/en/autismservices/tag/asd) [Back to Blog](https://blogs.thesteppingstonesgroup.com/en/autismservices) Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered as professional advice. The content is based on the author's personal experiences, research, and opinions. It is always recommended to consult with a qualified professional or expert before making any decisions or taking action based on the information provided in this blog. ## Related Articles ##### [Beyond Words: How to Support a Nonverbal Child with Autism](https://blogs.thesteppingstonesgroup.com/en/autismservices/beyond-words-how-to-support-a-nonverbal-child-with-autism) When we think of communication, we often think of spoken words. But for many individuals with... [Read More](https://blogs.thesteppingstonesgroup.com/en/autismservices/beyond-words-how-to-support-a-nonverbal-child-with-autism) ##### [Ideas for Making Travel Less Stressful for Your Child with Autism Spectrum Disorder](https://blogs.thesteppingstonesgroup.com/en/autismservices/ideas-for-making-travel-less-stressful-for-your-child-with-autism-spectrum-disorder) Family vacations can be delightful. For parents of children who have autism spectrum disorder... 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