Sons flapping getting worse

[propercheesed]

Hello everyone(bare with me still learning).

My son has flapped from a very early age usually when excited but over the past 12 months I have noticed that it is becoming more often and now he jumps at the same time, rolls his shoulders when he is speaking and leans forward with his arms stiff and repeatedly clenches his fists. During a meeting with his teacher(oct 2011) I mentioned about his flapping and was told it was barely noticable at the beginning of the school year but it was becoming more noticable when he was listening to a story and it got to an exciting part.

He went to stay at his nan and grandads the other weekend and when we went to collect him he was doing his usual flapping and she took me in the kitchen and told me she hadn't seen him do it at all during his stay?????....is it me?? am I causing him to do it?????

Please can someone tell me if they have had similar experiences.

How old is he? Has he been diagnosed with any ASD type behaviour officially?

wow that was quick!

He is 6 turns 7 in may, he has been referred to CAMHS(poss ASD) but has an EP coming in to school feb 29th to assess after a visit from special education needs department(think this is right) highlighted possible SCLN and ASD...??

My nephew is nearly 7 and has just been referred to a child psychologist as he tics.

Nothing massively noticable, and it varies from week to week (one week he'll be shrugging one shoulder constantly, the next he'll be shaking his leg) but it has been going on for a couple of years now. My sister took him to GP who wasn't overly concerned but referred him to the psych for tips on how to manage the tics. He doesn't have any sort of SN or ASD, he just twitches!

Repost this in SN Children. Lots of us there have flapping children. :)

You aren't causing him to do it - but he might do it more around you because he's more relaxed and comfortable around you.

ie he knows it's not socially acceptable, so keeps it in check more when he's at his Nans.

This would fit with him doing it more now at school, than he used to.

There are other behaviours present, and I have spoken to a couple of people who have explained why he may be flapping(a release of built up emotions) but this particular one has been on my mind for a while as my partner thinks he is doing it on purpose because I am letting him (he finds it distracting) but I have actually heard my son banging upstairs and I have sneaked up to see what he is doing and he has been frantically flapping, jumping, going stiff and muttering to himself. It just seems to be like this if I am with him or close by....I am now spending most of my time doubting my parenting skills e.g what if I did this too much, or didn't do this enough etc etc but now I'm worrying that I am making him react like this. I would be heartbroken if I was causing him stress :(

Thanks IndigoBell

How do I repost, if there is a simple answer for that I will apologise beforehand

If he has ASD he is not doing it on purpose - nor is it necessarily a release of built up emotions.

You might want to read Is That My Child?

I meant just start a new thread. :)

My ds has a few behaviours like this and part of his diagnosis (child psychologist) has been anxiety problems. We are working on alternative methods of relaxation - visualisation and body tensing and relaxing exercises right now.

It sounds a little as though he does it in situations he feels more comfortable in and it is his own method of relaxation. Maybe he could be taught more socially acceptable ways of releasing his emotions instead. I think you would need a professional to help you through that though so mention it when you next meet with them.