Tylers doctors have always said if it doesnt bother me that he does it and he isnt in danger or someone else in danger then let him do it because if you stop one stim they will go onto a different one anyway. Now trying to get interaction from it is a good idea as long as you aren't ticking him off. Example when Tyler spins in the computer chair I can spin him instead and he will tell me go and faster! LOL I was also just recently told by the psychiatrist to try to get communication while they are doing things like this many times its a calming thing and they are better able to focus and communicate as they are relaxed.
I was just wondering if anyone could answer this question for me. We have not seen the behavioral specialist yet. My son Nick has started gathering all the shoes in house he can find and lining them up across the living room floor. He seems to enjoy this a great deal. What I don't know is, should I discourage this behavior or let him continue because he likes it so much?This is what I've read about such behaviors ... try to join in with him and make it a game of sorts. Like, if he puts them in a line, take a few out of line. Kind of force him to interact with you. The dev ped told us it's not a big deal so much to do stimming behaviors if they're part of an interaction with other people! For example, when Luke bounces up and down on the couch, we toss a beach ball playfully to him. He smiles and laughs and tosses it back to us and before you know it, we have a little game going.I agree, I think interacting with them is so beneficial, but tread lightly at first, sometimes they don't want to interact and it can lead to a meltdown. Maybe try to add to his line of shoes...something that he'll notice and not get upset about...or pretend they are trains!
Nicholas lets me interact mostly and its the best time we spend together, his stim is that he loves to play act out his video's, ie...a song or something, we make up dances to them and will do them during the day so we can dance together...its encouraging so many things like pretend play, and socializing, eye contact, even speech...best of luck from one Nick's mommy to another! LOL
hugs!
Ali