Stimming

Self-stimulatury behavior or stimming is when a person does repetitive behaviors like rocking, flapping, spininning, or even if they repeat certain words and phrases.

Stimming goes beyond just Autism.  Stimming can take many forms.  Even if you are person that bites your nails or paces when you talk on the phone, these too are forms of stimming.

So what is the difference between being Autistic and stimming and not being Autistic and stimming?

This comes down to the type of stimming that is being performed and the length of time the indvidual is doing it.

For example, a person who taps there pencil on a table while sitting in class isn't seen as doing anything out of the ordinary, but a child who is sitting in class and flapping their hands might catch some attention. 

What can be done to help the urges with stimming?

- Occupational therapy is a great way to work with your child and stimming.  An Occupational Therapist can also discuss with you ways to help your child redirect the way they stim.

- If you see that your child is stimming or about to stim, go up to them and try to divert their attention onto something else. 

- Medication. 

- Find a less obvious outlet to help your child with stimming.  Instead of rocking their whole bodies, try working with them to tap with their foot.


It will be incrediably difficult to stop the behavior of stimming because, in some way, everyone does it.  In the case of Autistic children, their stimming is more extreme.  It will take a lot of time to control the behavior or even stop it.  The chances of it even completely stopping is very slim, but if you are able to help your child with a less aggressive or subtle form of stimming the better.  Kids with Autism can obtain stimming that can hurt themselves and severer forms of stimming will make them stand out from everyone else, which can add bullying to the equation. 

When it comes to stimming there is a lot to think about and how a person decides to tackle on stimming is there choice.