Autistic child playing too rough

[neverbeenskiing]

DS (4) is in Reception and although his Teacher feels he's coping well in the classroom, he gets really overstimulated on the playground. There have been a few incidents where he has pushed other children, once was in retaliation (an older child pushed his friend) but mostly he gets "carried away" (his Teachers words) and does not realise he is playing too rough. There was an issue yesterday with a group of boys playfighting and it went too far, and DS was one of them. We were given a social story about hitting and pushing, but this was focused on "when I get angry..." and I don't think that's whats happening.
Can anyone recommend any resources or strategies for children with SEN who don't realise they're playing too rough and might hurt others?

The school need to have better boundaries. They shouldn’t allow play fighting at all. Many DC struggle with it and it often ends up going too far. Far easier for DC to understand it isn’t allowed at all. And for staff to supervise.

Being too rough can be a sign of sensory differences. Have a look at this booklet and this website. For example, ‘heavy’ lifting activities can help. Does the school provide any support for sensory needs? Or anything like Zones of Regulation?

I don't blame the school, they actively discourage play-fighting whenever they see it, but with so many kids out on the playground and not enough staff to supervise them it must be impossible to watch them all every second. They do ZOR with all the children. I will have a look at the sensory behaviour stuff you linked to, thank you. DS does have some sensory needs, he has to have slightly adapted school uniform and has very extreme reactions to certain textures, smells or noises. He says he enjoys playtime at school but from a sensory perspective there's a lot going on and I wonder if it's too much.

The school do need to provide a higher level of supervision on the playground. Particularly if they have pupils struggling, play-fighting happening regularly and older DC able to push younger DC.