Stimming

Stimming covers movements or sounds a child repeats, such as rocking, spinning, hand flapping, finger flicking or humming. The NHS lists these repetitive movements among the common signs of autism Autism Autism is a difference in how the brain develops. It shapes how an autistic child sees and experiences the world, how they communicate, and how they respond to things like noise, light and touch. Read the full definition of Autism in children. For many children, stimming is a way to handle big feelings Emotional dysregulation Feelings that arrive fast, hit hard and take a long time to fade. It is a big part of ADHD for many families, even though it is not on the official checklist. Read the full definition of Emotional dysregulation , cope with noise and crowds, or simply feel good, so the kindest response is usually to understand what it does for your child rather than to try to stop it. If your child's stimming hurts them, for example head banging or biting, tell your GP or health visitor: they may need help finding safer ways to cope, and that is different from being told off for stimming.