Stimming at School: How Teachers and Parents Can Support Autistic Children
Many autistic children stim during the school day. Parents or teachers may notice behaviors such as: • hand flapping • rocking in their chair • tapping pencils or objects • repeating sounds or phrases • pacing or bouncing These behaviors can sometimes raise concerns in classroom settings. Teachers may worry that stimming will distract other students, while parents may worry that their child will be misunderstood or disciplined. However, stimming is often a natural way autistic children regulate their nervous system. The classroom environment can be filled with sensory stimulation and social demands, which makes self-regulation especially important. Understanding why stimming occurs at school can help both parents and teachers respond in supportive ways. In this guide, you will learn: • why autistic children stim at school • how the classroom environment can increase stimming • ways teachers can support regulation • strategies parents can use to work with schools Behaviors such as ...