Stimming is defined as repetitive motions that you may use to help you cope with emotions.
It is calming in oversensitive children as it helps them to block out and manage overwhelming sensory information, by reducing sensory overload, and focusing their attention on one thing only.
It is also stimulating to under-sensitive children as it is used to self-regulate. Self- regulation helps process emotions and improves mental health.
Stimming serves a purpose for the person doing the repetitive behavior, but can be distracting for people around them.
Stimming is prevalent in the children on the autistic spectrum as their senses are heightened and experienced differently, but it does not necessarily mean you are on the spectrum if you stim, as neuro-typical people stim at least some of the time e.g., chewing on a pencil while concentrating or sucking a thumb to self-sooth.
Examples of stimming include:-
Nail biting when feeling anxious.
Hair twirling when bored.
Hand flapping when excited.
Finger flicking.
Rocking back and forth when sitting or standing.
Repeating words or phrases.
Pacing or walking on tiptoes.
Scratching or rubbing their skin repeatedly.
Repetitive blinking.
It is important to ensure that none of the behaviors are harmful e.g., head banging can have health consequences.
Techniques to help reduce the stim or change the environment will then need to be looked at.
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