Ds is nearly four, intelligent but dyspraxic with some sensory issues. He seems young for his years socially and can be very impulsive. We currently have a problem with his constantly touching people, which can take the form of slapping or patting though this afternoon he deliberately ran into a man sitting down drinking hot tea, which was potentially dangerous. This but is very disconcerting for people, and of course, other children hate it (their parents aren't crazy about it either, I imagine). He will usually just go up to an adult or child and slap them - almost never hard enough to hurt them. He seems to have enough control not to hurt, but not enough to resist the impulse to touch or slap. It's becoming a bit of a nightmare atm, as he does it so frequently. He is worse when tired, hungry or thirsty (though he rarely tells us he is thirsty, we just have to guess from his behaviour!). We have come home early from two activities today (just the park and the Somerset House fountains) because he won't stop doing it. He lost an ice cream this pm because of it as well, and was distraught (he hit a little girl - just went up to her and slapped her arm). He is quite obsessed with touching people - he will also go up and cuddle fairly random women and pet and kiss babies.
Don't really know why he is doing this and totally at a loss to know how to stop it. We've told him over and over again not to touch people he doesn't know. He is taken home and watched like a hawk. We are SHATTERED! I expect this flurry of hitting/patting is a phase (he has always done this to some extent) but what should we do?