{"id":1781,"date":"2021-09-23T12:53:34","date_gmt":"2021-09-23T12:53:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/?p=1781"},"modified":"2021-11-23T13:04:21","modified_gmt":"2021-11-23T13:04:21","slug":"how-to-help-your-child-reduce-stimming","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/how-to-help-your-child-reduce-stimming\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Help Your Child Reduce Stimming"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Everyone engages in stimming behaviors. Normally, these behaviors are not a cause for concern and sometimes they can even be helpful. However, autistic stimming behaviors are more noticeable and can result in injuries in chidren.\u200f<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u200fIn this guide, we provide the answer to a common question we get asked: \u201c<\/span><b>\u200f<\/b><a href=\"\/worldwide-pediatrics\/developmental-screening-delay-treatment-plantation-florida\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>What is stimming?<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u200f\u201d We will also discuss how to reduce stimming in your child.\u200f<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u200f<\/span><b>What Is Stimming?\u200f<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Stimming is also referred to as self-stimulatory behaviors (SSBs). It\u2019s behavior that we all engage in, without giving it much thought. For instance, stimming can include the following:\u200f<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> \u200fTapping your fingers on the table while waiting for something\u200f<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> \u200fJiggling your feet when getting impatient\u200f<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> \u200fBiting your nails when you\u2019re engrossed in thought\u200f<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> \u200fCracking your knuckles\u200f<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Stims are often repetitive behaviors or motions that we like to do because they help to distract or keep us calm and relaxed. In a way, it\u2019s self-soothing with our bodies.\u200f<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u200f<\/span><b>What is Stimming In Autistic Children?<\/b><\/h2>\n<h2><b><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1783 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2021\/11\/\u200fWhat-is-Stimming-In-Autistic-Children\u200f.jpg\" alt=\"Beautiful Girl Nervously Biting Her Nails\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2021\/11\/\u200fWhat-is-Stimming-In-Autistic-Children\u200f-200x133.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2021\/11\/\u200fWhat-is-Stimming-In-Autistic-Children\u200f-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2021\/11\/\u200fWhat-is-Stimming-In-Autistic-Children\u200f-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2021\/11\/\u200fWhat-is-Stimming-In-Autistic-Children\u200f-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2021\/11\/\u200fWhat-is-Stimming-In-Autistic-Children\u200f-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2021\/11\/\u200fWhat-is-Stimming-In-Autistic-Children\u200f-800x534.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2021\/11\/\u200fWhat-is-Stimming-In-Autistic-Children\u200f.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u200fStims are generally socially acceptable as long as they are not too excessive or strange. However, people with autism tend to exhibit unusual and extreme stims, such as jumping up and down or making the same sound repeatedly.\u200f<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u200fThis is not bad in and of itself, but sometimes autistic stimming can be harmful. It\u2019s because of this that parents of autistic children may wonder how to stop stimming. They often get worried when they notice child stimming behaviors like banging hands, head, or legs against objects, hair pulling, or nail biting until there\u2019s bleeding.\u200f<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u200f<\/span><b>Why Does Stimming Happen?\u200f<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u200fIt\u2019s important to emphasize that there\u2019s nothing wrong with stimming. So although some parents may ask about how to stop stimming, what they really want to know is how to reduce stimming behaviors that can harm or which are disruptive to the child\u2019s development. \u200f<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u200fThe truth is it\u2019s not about how to stop stimming because it\u2019s ingrained behavior that serves a purpose. In autistic children, stimming can be beneficial for the following reasons:\u200f<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> \u200fCalms and relaxes. When a person experiences sensory overload, the feeling can be overwhelming and stimming allows them to feel calm and relaxed. It can be very difficult for an autistic child to process excess sensory input and stimming helps them cope.\u200f<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> \u200fDistracts from pain. Some stimming behaviors can help distract from pain. The person will be so engaged in the activity that they no longer notice the pain.\u200f<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> \u200fHelps to manage bursts of emotion. Some emotions like joy, excessive excitement, and extreme anger can intensify stimming. This helps the person to cope with overwhelming bursts of emotion.\u200f<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> \u200fGet attention. When someone with autism struggles to express themselves, they may resort to stimming to get the attention the need or to get their feeling across.\u200f<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u200f<\/span><b>Five Management Techniques for Stimming\u200f<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u200fWhile child stimming can be beneficial, some behaviors have a negative impact on your child\u2019s health, learning, and social relationships. The behaviors may also be disruptive to others. Fortunately, it\u2019s possible to reduce stimming behaviors. Here are five management techniques that can help.\u200f<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>\u200fUnderstand What Triggers Stimming\u200f<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u200fThe first step to discovering how to reduce stimming is to understand what triggers the behavior in the first place. Common reasons why child stimming happens includes: loud noises, bright lights, strong emotions, and disruptive changes in routine.\u200f<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u200fBe observant each time your child starts to stim so you can figure out the emotion behind each trigger. Once you spot the triggers that lead to harmful stimming, eliminating them can help relieve your child\u2019s stress. \u200f<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u200fAlways ensure that your child has a calming environment and don\u2019t try to punish them for acting a certain way. Instead, be gentle, provide encouragement, and offer rewards.\u200f<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Find a Replacement Stim\u200f<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u200fAsking your child to stop stimming is asking them to do the impossible. Autistic stimming can be incredibly therapeutic to your child and if you try to forcefully stop a harmful stimming behavior, it will be replaced by another similar stim. \u200f<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u200fTherefore, it\u2019s best to encourage your child to engage in safe stimming by finding a replacement stim. For instance, if your child likes to flap their hands in a disruptive manner, you could give them a fidget spinner to play with instead. \u200f<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u200fOr if they like to spin around in circles until they get dizzy, you could buy them a swivel chair that they can safely spin on.\u200f<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>\u200fTry Speech and ABA Therapy\u200f<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u200fSome stimming behavior is simply your child trying to communicate with you. In that case, speech therapy can help as it teaches your child to express themselves with words instead of stims. When your child is able to explain how they feel, they will no longer feel the need to act a certain way to get your attention. \u200f<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u200fSimilarly, ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) therapy helps to root out stimming triggers and encourage safe stimming. With regular speech and ABA therapy sessions, you can eventually reduce harmful stims and teach your child better management techniques.\u200f<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Encourage Your Child to Engage in Physical Activity\u200f<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u200fChildren love to engage in exercise, especially when it\u2019s something they enjoy. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthychildren.org\/English\/healthy-living\/fitness\/Pages\/Encouraging-Your-Child-to-be-Physically-Active.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Why is physical activity important for kids<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">? Keeping the exercise fun helps to distract your child from sensory overload and it also provides them with a coping technique that keeps them focused.\u200f<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u200fExercise can also be beneficial at reducing the effect of stressful sessions, so be sure to plan some exercise sessions with your child on a daily basis. Instead of a single, long exercise session, you can split the activities into different sessions throughout the day. Helpful activities include jumping up and down or playing games.\u200f<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>\u200fTalk to a Medical Professional<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><b><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1784 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2021\/11\/\u200fTalk-to-a-Medical-Professional\u200f.jpg\" alt=\"Meeting of Pre-teen Child Girl and Female Social Worker Psychologist at the Office\" width=\"1000\" height=\"667\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2021\/11\/\u200fTalk-to-a-Medical-Professional\u200f-200x133.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2021\/11\/\u200fTalk-to-a-Medical-Professional\u200f-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2021\/11\/\u200fTalk-to-a-Medical-Professional\u200f-400x267.jpg 400w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2021\/11\/\u200fTalk-to-a-Medical-Professional\u200f-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2021\/11\/\u200fTalk-to-a-Medical-Professional\u200f-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2021\/11\/\u200fTalk-to-a-Medical-Professional\u200f-800x534.jpg 800w, https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/32\/2021\/11\/\u200fTalk-to-a-Medical-Professional\u200f.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/>\u200f<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u200fIf you\u2019re worried about your child\u2019s stimming behaviors, we recommend talking to a medical professional to find out the reasons behind these behaviors. In some instances, stimming is not always related to sensory processing. The issue could be health-related, such as when a child bangs their head because they suffer from excruciating migraines.\u200f<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u200fIf a parent automatically assumes that the child is stimming because they are autistic, it means the child will not get the diagnosis they need to get treated properly. Seeking medical advice helps you confirm the root cause behind the stims and how best to address them.\u200f<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u200f<\/span><b>Get Help With Stimming from Worldwide Pediatrics\u200f<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u200fAt Worldwide Pediatrics, we not only provide general pediatric care, but you can also come to us for developmental screenings and appropriate delay treatments regardless of your child\u2019s age.\u200f<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u200fWe understand that your child is unique and if you\u2019re worried about your child\u2019s harmful stimming behaviors, we can help you make the necessary adjustments to support your child. \u200f<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\u200fOur practice has extensive experience with helping many parents raise happy and healthy children. Contact us to request an appointment, today.\u200f<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Everyone engages in stimming behaviors. Normally, these behaviors are not a cause for concern and sometimes they can even be helpful. However, autistic stimming behaviors are more noticeable and can result in injuries in chidren.\u200f \u200fIn this guide, we provide the answer to a common question we get asked: \u201c\u200fWhat is stimming?\u200f\u201d We will also<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1782,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[88,21],"tags":[237,236,234,235,232,233],"class_list":["post-1781","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-autism","category-childrens-health","tag-autistic-stimming","tag-child-stimming","tag-how-to-reduce-stimming","tag-how-to-stop-stimming","tag-stimming","tag-what-is-stimming"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1781","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1781"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1781\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1782"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1781"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1781"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.toplinemd.com\/worldwide-pediatrics\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1781"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}