twin copying autistic behaviors

[Monica+Twins]

Jeremy has been copying some of Jason's autistic behaviors lately. Mainly hand flapping and humming or jumping up and down. I know he's just copying him and I do not belive he is on the ASD at all. I try to tell him not to but at just three years old he doesn't understand. What can i do? Should I just ignore it and hope he'll eventually stop?

[WendyL]

Hi Monica,
I wish I had some advice cause we deal with the same thing on a daily basis. My dd will copy her brother, but not all the time, and she still engages in 'normal' behaviour so I actually just let it be. In a way, I think its good for Jared cause she can be so in his face that he has to interact with her. She doesn't seem to do it when they're around other kids, just if she's desperate for Jared to play with her.
Do you think the behaviours are going to bad for Jeremy in some way? All kids do try to copy each other in one way or another so maybe its not too bad?
cheers,
Wendy (sorry I'm so vague, I'm just not sure what I'm supposed to do it about it either!)

[supposedlysusan]

If you are absolutely certain that it is imitative behavior, then ignore it.
Please, please, please read what I am about to say with the sensitive intent that I am writing it with, but are you sure he isn't on the spectrum? I only ask becuase I thought that of my Emma Jean until pretty recently only to learn otherwise. It has been very difficult to accept that I overlooked her needs in my single-minded pursuit of helping Abby. I wasted months of critical time in my blindness. Abby's needs were so much more crippling to her and to us as a family that I just didn't recognize Emma Jean's. People gently proposed I have her evaluated and I just brushed the suggestion off. Every child presents so differently and my gosh with all the freaking reading I've done in the past 20 months I, of all people, should have internalized that fact, but I didn't. :( And now we both have to live with the consequences of my denial. So, please forgive me if I tread on toes by making the suggestion. Trust me when I say I am doing it with a great deal of tenderness and fellowship, odd fellowship as it may be. I wouldn't wish this newfound regret on any other parent. And I will say a prayer right now that this isn't the case for you and your's.
((HUGS))

[sevenstw1]

My boys are both diagnosed but attend a preschool class that has children on all areas of the spectrum. They would imitate the stim of one boy at home. I just ignored it and it stopped. I think calling attention to it can make it seem more interesting.

[Monica+Twins]

thank you all for responding. And i am absolutely certain Jeremy is not on the spectrum. No one has ever mentioned he might be either. He does only copy when trying to get his brother's attention and never does it anywhere else. Also - he just starting doing this within the last few weeks. It is good to know that I am not alone though! :)

[supposedlysusan]

Well that is truly good news. I am glad for you all. Good luck with the ignoring. Before I had my giorls I had no idea that ignoring was such an active exercise! And I want to thank you for taking me at my word. I am so regretful of my blindness when it came to Beans, I never want anyone to experience the grief that is already to be dealt with when you learn your child has autism added to like I have with Beans. It has been a real stinko for me to work through. Almost harder than when Abby was dx'd. Not sure exactly as to why. Anyway, I did not mean to hijack. :o
Ya'll keep fighting the good fight!