Anxiety.

[Violet44]

Just had parents meeting. DS (7)has motor planning issues and visual perception issues and audio processing issues which make writing extremely difficult for him.

He used to chew a lot and has had various chew toys. Teacher says he is not chewing so much at moment but sticks hands down trousers instead. Also breaking pencils, rulers because he needs to fidget. She says it's down to anxiety about his work, but when I ask him if he's anxious he says he's not. Also found out some children have teased him but he didn't tell me, although clearly upset about it.

how do I know if his behaviour is caused by anxiety and how do I get him to talk about it?

My DS (8 with autism) does a lot of these things at school and it's not anxiety it's a sensory thing - constant need to fiddle. So the school give him Blu tack, fiddle toys, basically anything otherwise hands are straight down trousers and fiddling there! Might be worth asking if they can look at managing his sensory needs?

Thanks, yes I wondered if it was more a sensory thing, he just doesn't seem anxious, maybe should get some fidget toys.

There is a lady on YouTube called Purple Ella and she recently did a great video on sensory toys (I think she called it her sensory aid kit). She is autistic and two of her three children are also on the spectrum so between them they have a wide variety of stuff! Might give you some ideas of things to try?

Belt on school trousers stops dc delving into their pants. Ds has velcro and lego strips stuck to his table.

Here is a link: