7year old daughter autisum

[3h3rnand3z07]

My daughter has rapid arm movements like she's flying she does this every time she gets excited I don't think she realizes she's doing it. How can I get her to stop?  

[specialmom]

The chewing on shirts is a sign of anxiety.  My son did this a LOT in first grade which  IS around 7 years old.  Our occupational therapist gave us alternatives for him to try.  He had a bead bracelet that is designed for chewing.  He didn't wear it because he is a boy and didn't want to wear jewelry but your daughter may like that.  You can get that at a therapy shop online (look for sensory integration disorder or occupational therapy stores online).  They also make rubber tubing that a kid can chew on that they can wear on their neck or wrist.  When my son was in third grade, he started chewing pencils---  therapy shops like I mentioned sell plastic covers that go on pencils specifically made so a child can bit down on it.

Chewing is a way of orally soothing.  Now in 4th grade, my son is allowed bubble gum in class.  

But decreasing my child's anxiety was the biggest key to stopping the chewing need and actually the stimming too.  

My son felt funny/different for a long time.  Poor kid!  As he got more mainstream and acclimated to being just one of the guys, the stimming and chewing has slowed way down.

Try at home when you see her start flapping handing her a hand fidget and see if she can squeeze that for a release.  See if that helps.  Try at home this summer.  

do you think your daughter has anxiety??  

[3h3rnand3z07]

My daughter diagnosed with autism/adhd she is really smart but shes scared that the kids in class will laugh. she does this flapping thing everywhere she goes and when she does it her mouth is wide open and to the side it looks weird but i never tell her to stop i just wanna help her control it so that she dont get made fun off shes been doin this flapping thing since she was 5months old and she also chews on shirts. she was diagnosed when she was 3yrs old. Im wondering if its just autism or something more

[specialmom]

Hi there and welcome.  Well, do you feel she has autism??  That is a really big question.  many a child has something they do that is funky to watch but not having anything to do with a disorder of some sort.  So, with that said---  a bigger list of what is going on with her might be helpful.  

Because here is the thing, if it is the stimming that an autistic child does, the worst thing you can do is try to stop it.

My son has sensory integration disorder which isn't autism (although many autistic kids have overlapping sensory symptoms) and he did a stimming activity when younger.  He would spin in a circle.  I thought it looked odd and would try to stop him.  What I learned from specialists is that actually the spinning was serving a purpose.  It was calming him and helping him regulate his nervous system.  Same for kids who rock or flap their arms.  

So, we had a spin rule----  my son had opportunities to spin like crazy at home.  We'd put on music and I'd say "spin spin spin!".  Then he would have less of a need for it when he was in the 'real' world.  He still did it but in much smaller doses.  it worked.  My son does flap occasionally still but it is not a big deal.  while it looks odd to me and makes me sensitive to his sensory disorder, it's not about me.  he's calming himself.  I let him have that as his right.

so, that is the difference.  If it is just an odd quirk that is not related to anything, perhaps you can redirect her to another way of expressing what she is feeling that you find more socially acceptable.  But otherwise, it probably isn't hurting anything.

PS, no one has ever made fun of my son.  he is given free reign to do what he needs to regulate and self soothe at home and kind of monitors himself outside of the home---  but no one makes fun of him and in truth, he blends in really well.  Most kids don't even notice it.  I do, but they don't seem to.  But I am looking at my child in a different way.  

Oh, and there is a boy that I've noticed flapping that is in my younger son's class.  The kid is super smart, can hit a baseball out of the park, nice and funny.  Who knows why he gets his arms going here and there.  He's a neat kid with lots of friends.  so don't feel like your daughter is alone.  peace