Hand Flapping can have meaning

[SoBlue]

Hi, I haven't written a post in along time but thought this might be helpfull to those with children with ASD.

Recently I informed my DS(7) that he had Autism using a simple book called 'Ians Walk' the main thread described most of the behaviour as thinking/doing things different. Much of it my DS has grown out of and doesn't remember doing but once we hit the hand flapping page. He instantly recognised the behaviour and I happened to ask 'why' not really expecting an answer. But to my amazement he launched into a full demo with explanation of all the various hand flaps! One was from the cartoon Sonic (which he loves) basically very fast hand rolling which was for 'electricity' (speeding up), there was flapping round the ears (smoke coming out) which indicated angry and another, one flap one hand with a stamp then the other side was keep away!

I found the whole thing fascinating and really didn't know he was that capable of explaining his actions. But then I rarely ask and just accept the behaviour alot of the time passing it off as typical ASD behaviour.

I hope this proves insightful

That is very interesting... I can see how those actions relate to Sonic (I'm thinking of Sonic The Hedgehog a video game, but also a cartoon).

I'm reading 'A Real Boy' (Authors: Christopher and Nicola Stevens) and it mentioned twirling. Which reminded me that I used to do that as a child... I was pretending to be an aeroplane. Logically that does not quite fit though, as an aeroplane does not go round and round very fast, till you are giddy and crash to the ground, then watching the world spin around you. But I think it was something to do with aeroplanes... maybe helicopter!

Yes it is Sonic the Hedgehog. Now I think of it, I suppose some of it maybe an extention of childlike play. Most of us did strange things when we were younger. Brave of you to explain 'nannynick' . But I guess we gave it up as we matured and the comfort/enjoyment waned. I'm sure this won't be the same for all ASD children but behaviour is usually an expression as words are.

I don't have a dx, so hard for me know if what I did as a child was part of normal development, or not. Young children will certainly run around a bit... I work with children so have seen a lot of different children, but I've not come across one who likes to twirl/spin as much as I did as a child.

Thinking of it, helicopter fits a lot better... the person doing the spinning is bring the rotor blades.

Mind you, my mum says I loved watching the washing machine when I was 2-4 years old. Didn't have a TV back then, so washing machine was a good form of entertainment... she would let me watch the complete wash cycle.

Ds is seeing an Edpsych who keeps suggesting AS amongst other things.

He's 5 and flaps a lot.

He also tells me how much he enjoys doing it. He says he loves to flap if he sees things moving very fast - it makes him think of a bird's wings - so he wants to flap fast. He also flaps at spinning things like wheels or machinery. He'll start flapping or jumping during an exciting part in a film or TV programme or even a book in the same way an adult might while watching a football match.

I used to tell him to stop and he will if I ask, but tbh if he enjoys it I'm not bothered. Unless he's doing it at inappropriate times - so far they all make sense to me - they're not random incidents and he can explain why he does it which I figure must be a good thing?

Bobsmum - DS1 (6), not dx but with AS traits, is exactly the same. I've never seen him doing it when he's with friends or at school, so I figure he can control it as well as explain it. It used to bother me, but not any more.

My DS seems able to control it too, if he's asked to stop( usually in public or school, at home I let him get on with it), he usually will. In an attempt to make him a bit more self aware I sometimes ask him if he sees anyone else doing it, as he's becoming more observant of how other kids behave.