In Search of Friendship: What to Do About Obsession With Another Child?

Like everyone else, autistic individuals want to make friends and maintain trusting relationships. However, they often don’t realize how their attempts are perceived—especially when a specific child draws their attention and becomes an involuntary “hostage” of the situation. That child may see the autistic person’s fixation as stalking, even though the intention is entirely different.

To provide meaningful support, it’s essential to take a series of steps and analyze the reasons behind such behavior:

• The other child might represent a “special interest”—a source of comfort, predictability, or fascination in a complex social world.
• The fixation may be an attempt to establish social connections, although it is expressed in an unusual way.
• Something about the other child (voice, movements, clothing) may serve as a sensory stimulus—either calming or exciting.
• Interacting with a specific child may become part of the rigid routine that many autistic individuals follow, and being near this child may reduce anxiety in stressful environments.

Understanding the Nature of the Fixation

Before drawing conclusions and choosing an intervention, it’s important to observe when and under what circumstances the fixation intensifies, and what exactly the “obsession” looks like—whether it’s constant talk about the other child, following them around, intense staring, touching, attempts to control shared play, distress during separation, mimicking behavior, or giving gifts and notes.

It’s equally important to assess how this behavior affects both children—especially the one receiving the attention.

Clear Communication and Personal Boundaries

When discussing the situation, it’s important to acknowledge the attachment while clearly and simply explaining the need to respect personal boundaries. Social stories and visual supports—such as picture cards or schedules—can help explain how much time can be spent on social interaction versus solo work or play. Non-verbal reminders like “stop” or “personal space” cards can also be effective.

Teaching Alternatives and Expanding Interests

Helping a child move beyond an obsessive focus involves teaching alternative skills and broadening their range of interests. Structured interactions can be helpful—short, supervised meetings or joint tasks with clear roles and rules.

Teach the child how to ask to join a game, interpret non-verbal signals, respond calmly to rejection, and find common topics for conversation.

Compassion and Support Over Punishment

It’s important to remember that unusual behavior in an autistic child stems from their neurological differences, not ill intent. The child should not be punished for acting differently. Instead, the best form of help is addressing the underlying condition itself.

The Promise of Cellular Therapy

Currently, the most effective way to achieve this and improve social, cognitive, and other skills is cellular therapy. This innovative, minimally invasive procedure has recently gained recognition as a leading method for treating autism and its symptoms, surpassing traditional approaches in effectiveness.

The therapy involves transplanting stem cells, which have the unique ability to transform into any cell type and replace damaged ones with healthy alternatives. This process helps restore proper brain and nervous system function, stabilize behavior, accelerate overall development, and foster the formation or improvement of key skills. Symptoms of the disorder may appear less frequently—or disappear altogether. These results are long-lasting and often permanent, enhancing the effectiveness of other therapeutic interventions.

It’s very likely that cellular therapy will become the primary treatment for autism and its symptoms in the future. Currently, only leading medical centers around the world offer it—including the Mardaleishvili Medical Center.

Its specialists have extensive experience with stem cell transplantation and use cutting-edge equipment to achieve the best possible outcomes. Their services meet the highest quality standards and are more affordable than similar treatments in other countries with advanced healthcare systems.

Support is also available when planning your visit and handling matters like accommodations during the rehabilitation period.

Fill Out the Contact Form—Experience the Benefits of Cellular Therapy!