Can anyone explain to me why these sensory things are "bad"?

[Anonymous]

My 4 yr old with Asperger's jumps up and down and flaps his hands when he gets excited and happy. Likes to run around in circles around the house for < 5 minutes everyday. I don't think it's that big a deal but our OT & developmental ped always like to point it out. I don't understand why this behavior should be discouraged. It really doesn't interfere with anything and doesn't affect him socially in preK.

[Anonymous]

I'm mystified by the emphasis on sensory issues too, OP. It seems these days that if a child has a few benign quirks or if there are simply a few sensations that he/she does not enjoy, that must in and of itself be cause for concern or some sort of "red flag" rather than simply just be the way it is. As if we no one is supposed to be an individual or have anything on a sensory level that they especially like or dislike. Are we all supposed to experience the world in a flat way?

[Anonymous]

It definitely should not be characterized as "bad". I think many parents are super sensitive about it and desperately want their kid to seem as "normal" as possible so they don't become targets of teasing or be ocstracized for being different. If it doesn't have this effect now, it might later on. I would ask them directly what their concerns about it is.

[Anonymous]

I think the behavior is worth noting but (as Mama always said) it's not a problem unless it's a problem. I have a pretty wide range for "normal" and hate giving kids labels.

[Anonymous]

I think these things should only be "worked on" if they interfere with learning or peer relationships. I think OTs especially can jump the gun and focus heavily on these things, I think sometimes they're going for the low-lying fruit.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't consider those sensory things "bad" especially if they don't bother him or you.
My DS has different sensory issues though, which some people may be confusing, that do affect his daily life. He runs screaming from public bathrooms if the toilet flushes, he cannot go into any restaurants, museums,mor any other loud echoey or busy places. He runs screaming in a panic from metro stations or anywhere that has a fan type sound. Movies and birthday parties are definitely out too, and he isn't able to eat in the lunchroom and can't go in the gym at school.
So yes, some kids have sensory issues that affect their everyday lives. But this doesn't sound like what your son is going through. Maybe mention to the OT that those things don't bother you, maybe they are assuming its a behavior that you want to stop.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't consider those sensory things "bad" especially if they don't bother him or you.
My DS has different sensory issues though, which some people may be confusing, that do affect his daily life. He runs screaming from public bathrooms if the toilet flushes, he cannot go into any restaurants, museums,mor any other loud echoey or busy places. He runs screaming in a panic from metro stations or anywhere that has a fan type sound. Movies and birthday parties are definitely out too, and he isn't able to eat in the lunchroom and can't go in the gym at school.
So yes, some kids have sensory issues that affect their everyday lives. But this doesn't sound like what your son is going through. Maybe mention to the OT that those things don't bother you, maybe they are assuming its a behavior that you want to stop.

FYI, a woman I knew had daughter with the same sensory issue regarding public bathrooms. This was a real problem if they went any where 45+ minutes away from home. She used sound cancelling headphones like the lawn mower guy might use. Yes, looks odd but definitely allowed them a little more freedom.

[Anonymous]

I love the happy flappies myself. I think it's fine at 4. If my kid does it at age 10 it's an issue and we need to find a more acceptable way for him to show happiness because he/she is more likely to be teased. I think sometimes people over-examine our kids and even things you might see in NT kids get pointed out and too much time is spent on them.

[Anonymous]

My son is 9 with an ASD and has some mild stims. He pogoes up and down when he is very excited. He also does a lot of finger postures with his hands. We haven't worked on extinguishing these behaviors and I don't intend to. The jumping is pretty rare and the finger postures are constant, but subtle enough not to be a problem.

I'm very glad he stopped chewing his shirts, though. He had holes in the collars.

[Anonymous]

I think it's fine at 4. If my kid does it at age 10 it's an issue and we need to find a more acceptable way for him to show happiness because he/she is more likely to be teased.

make no mistake, peers will start mocking a kid who flaps his hands and pogo jumps long before age 10. BTDT

[Anonymous]

10:40 how did your son stop chewing? Mine is 10 and still chews holes in his shirt frequently. Did he just stop on his own? Mine has actually stopped this on his own periodically over the years but this time it seems to continue and he's getting older. Also wonder what this does to his teeth.

[Anonymous]

Our sensory problems are gone now that we've been on Zija. Most awesomest supplement out there!!!

[Anonymous]

I'm a Behavior Analyst who works with kids with sensory sensitivities. I alway say that the sensory differences are only a problem if they interfere with what someone should or could be doing in life. Nothing is inherently "bad". It all depends on how interfering it is. Everything should be seen in the bigger picture and while we always work to help people fit into society we also should help society accept everyone. www.pavingpathways.com

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I think it's fine at 4. If my kid does it at age 10 it's an issue and we need to find a more acceptable way for him to show happiness because he/she is more likely to be teased.

make no mistake, peers will start mocking a kid who flaps his hands and pogo jumps long before age 10. BTDT

Depends entirely on the school. The kids at our school are really tolerant and don't mock my son. They're nice kids. He's 9.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:10:40 how did your son stop chewing? Mine is 10 and still chews holes in his shirt frequently. Did he just stop on his own? Mine has actually stopped this on his own periodically over the years but this time it seems to continue and he's getting older. Also wonder what this does to his teeth.

He just quit doing it.