Big big big time!
My son was absolutely obsessed with Thomas, from a very very very young age. It was the very first toy he ever went "nuts" for, and until pokemon came along when he was 5, was his sole interest. NOthing else could engage him.
My mother went to a hobby store with him, and usually he was oblivious to his environment. He saw the thomas in the window going in, and while my mother was shoping "escaped" to the thomas. They found him right up in the window display playing with it! He was just turned 2.
We decided to buy him some thomas trains and track that christmas, but the sales lady got us to buy Brio instead, she said it was more appealing to younger kids like my son. Honestly, I don't know what she was smoking.
He "liked" the brio, but by January, made it very clear he NEEDED thomas! (not even 2 1/2 yet). We bought him a few trains, and he was happy. He also fell deeply inlove with the show. It was on nearly 24 / 7 in our house for 3 years. Not sure looking back it was a good idea to endulge him like that, but he appeared almost disturbed if it was not on in the background.
Slowely, he built up a massive collection. I met other kids who really liked Thomas too, however he was definately the "most interested".
He would roleplay the thomas show. He got all his values and morals from the show. (not a bad thing, it is good that way). He seemed to have difficulty separating people from trains. If someone was mean to him, he would say, "you are not a very nice engine!"
It totally took him over for about 3 years. Then, he stayed co-obsesed with it and pokemon for another 3 years. Right up to 8 years old, he loved his trains. I think he only moved away due to peer pressure. 8 year olds don't want to play with wooden trains! Eventually he got it! Transitioning him to model trains really helped.
I worked in a toystore, and all the kids "liked" thomas, but some parents, those that seemed nevous and jittery, and almost seemed sheepish about their kids, like they where hiding something, or embarassed about something, would explain that their child was "obsessed" with thomas. I remember these kids typically seemed a little more introverted.
I was disapointed when my two younger children did not buy into the thomas thing like my older son. They seem "like it". but have an equal interest in other toys, like cars, trucks, or sports. (with my daughter, dolls). They get irritated too if I leave a thomas DVD in for more then 2 rounds. My older son would meltdown if I took it out!
The funny thing is, I stimmed on the videos along with my son. I would become intranced in the world of sodor island, spending hours watching, sometimes the same video over and over. As an adult, I loved Thomas too!
My mom would yell at me for not "getting with it" and "wasting my time". Really though, when thomas was on, I was lost to this world. Hearing that the good Rev. was on the ASD scale, it all makes sence! It is not just the faces, but also the voices, even the speech, it is all exagerated and captivating!
31 Mar 2007, 8:33 am
