+Re: The obsession with dangling

[Guest guest]

Being that I'm relatively new to this list, I am always " proud " when starting a

thread that a lot of us respond to!

It seems fair to conclude that the " dangling " is fairly common amongst our

children with dual dx issues! What strikes me is the Woody thing on top of it!

Must have something to do with the fact that our kids feel like they've " got a

friend in him " after they see the DVD or he's DANGLEABLE! HA!

However, Aubrey doesn't throw a fit if he's in the car instead of the house-just

looks for her sister's pink soccer socks I can never seem to hide well enough...

I say " hide " because I have been told that these sensory behaviors should be

tapered as much as possible. I assume that she wants to do this to " calm "

herself as well besides the need for visual stim?

I want to take Aubrey out into the world as well, and when she is dangling socks

it make it a bit trickier! I also don't want to encourage behaviors that will

encourage her self-isolation. Resources so far are recommending weaning her off

these types of activities...

Appreciate any feedback regarding if any Doc, OT etc recommended trying to taper

these behaviors, or had recommendations for appropriate replacement.

Mahalo,

Desi

Subject: +Re: The obsession with " dangling "

To:

Date: Saturday, June 28, 2008, 9:27 AM

Holy cow! does this to no end. Her fave are beads. We also have

incorporated it into therapy. Its never ending dangling!

Now, is this was distinguishes (or rather ONE of the things) our kids

with DDX compared to kids with just DS?

[Guest guest]

likes to dangle his wiggles dolls but he also bangs which is driving

us CRAZY!! And heavily distressing the furniture even though we take them

away and hide them he finds them

>

>

>

> Holy cow! does this to no end. Her fave are beads. We also have

> incorporated it into therapy. Its never ending dangling!

> Now, is this was distinguishes (or rather ONE of the things) our kids

> with DDX compared to kids with just DS?

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Desi,

We allow Jake to dangle at certain times and places, and we appropriate items.

When he was really little he prefered shoes and socks. He actually dangles and

pats items on his chin/mouth. I thought it was best to prevent him from eating

shoes! We do allow dangling in the car, on the bus, and at home as long as he

is not getting too much into it. He dangles at school and actually is calmer

and more focused when he has something in his hands. The teachers allow this to

an extent but he cannot take his toys outside of their classroom.

Holly

[Guest guest]

How many typical people do you know who shake their leg, twist their hair,

rub their beard or mustache, or some other twitch or repeated behavior? I

do use some redirection where I believe that the object of the day may be a

distraction (restaurants for example.). But for the most part, I leave Elie

anad his object alone. He doesn't twitch or pick at himself, so I figure he

is entitled!!

> I definitely think trying to redirect is a good thing to do, but that

> is not always possible. I think to a point the stimming serves a

> purpose, and I don't totally restrict him from doing it(plus that

> would be impossible -but if I let him stim as much as he wants

> to, I don't think he would be where he is today(I know he wouldnt).

> I think the hardest part of redirecting him is the time and energy it

> takes. I can't be there all the time when he is stimming and sit down

> with him and engage him in a different activity. So thats hard. We

> are lucky to have a habilitation worker that spends a lot of time

> with him, at his preschool and our home, and she is more strict with

> him about stimming. But she is there specifically for him and has the

> time to work with him.

> But I have seen him open up alot more and learn so many different

> things that he would otherwise not because of the stimming. So for

> him, that is what is working best for us right now.

> But he fits it in wherever he can- lately he has been digging in his

> pajama drawer inthe morning when he wakes up and he will come out of

> his room shaking 1 pair of pajama bottoms in both hands:). And he has

> his favorite animals that dangle just right, I usualy put those on

> top of entertainment center, and when he sees them he will ask for

> his 'monkey'(also a good way to get him to communicate. And I will

> let him play with them for a bit. Ihave noticed the less he stims,

> the less he seems to need to.

> Anyway, thats our story!

> (mom to Ethan, 5)

>

>

>

--

Sara - Life is a journey- we choose the path.

[Guest guest]

My son does that and also throws the furniture into the walls.

We want to sell our home but we have to keep fixing the walls and

painting them. Our furniture was distress also but now it beyond

distressing. Cyndi B

>

> likes to dangle his wiggles dolls but he also bangs which is

driving

> us CRAZY!! And heavily distressing the furniture even though we

take them

> away and hide them he finds them

>

>

>

>

> >

> >

> >

> > Holy cow! does this to no end. Her fave are beads. We also

have

> > incorporated it into therapy. Its never ending dangling!

> > Now, is this was distinguishes (or rather ONE of the things) our

kids

> > with DDX compared to kids with just DS?

> >

> >

> >

>

>

>

>

>