Re: Things to fiddle with?

[Guest guest]

>

> The psychologist we are working with has suggested he have something in his

hands that he can play with in a small way to help with the restlessness and

picking behavior. My question is what? What is a good thing that is socially

acceptable for him to use. I'd like something that doesn't draw too much

attention. Any ideas?

Google autism fidget toys and you'll see what the psych meant.

[Guest guest]

We use rubber tubing attached to the top of Jayden's pancil for him to chew on, a sit n move cushion on his chair and a koosh? ball for him to squeeze.

From: doodlebugboodles <doodlebugboodles@...>Subject: ( ) Things to fiddle with? Date: Saturday, March 28, 2009, 2:00 PM

Hi,My name is Becky and my DS 11 was recent dx w/ Asperger's. The psychologist we are working with has suggested he have something in his hands that he can play with in a small way to help with the restlessness and picking behavior. My question is what? What is a good thing that is socially acceptable for him to use. I'd like something that doesn't draw too much attention. Any ideas?Thanks,Becky

[Guest guest]

Rubber bands, stress balls, silly putty. Erasers, paper clips.

[Guest guest]

My son has a little gadget of tiny wooden squares that can be shaped and reshaped. He fiddles with my paperclips all the time...but he puts them in his mouth and it can be sharp...so I hid them all. I would not give him that at school...he would get in trouble. He fiddles too much and it would be pointy...plus he constantly puts it in his mouth. Rubberbands are too dangerous also....he would probably end up shoot it off. Silly putty is great...but the teacher took it away...too messy and he puts some in his mouth (even at age 13). The stress ball is great...but he won't use it. I am still looking. It has to be something that doesn't look odd...or make him stand out and it definitely can't be messy, dangerous to him or others and it can not make noise. Still looking.

Jan

Janice Rushen

"I will try to be open to all avenues of wisdom and hope"

From: Brooklyn <bestmombrooklyn@...>Subject: Re: ( ) Things to fiddle with? Date: Saturday, March 28, 2009, 11:39 PM

Rubber bands, stress balls, silly putty. Erasers, paper clips.

[Guest guest]

Hi Becky:

I read a book recently titled " Send in the Idiots " - it was written by a man

with aspergers (I believe - I know he was on the spectrum). He went to school

with a group of autistic children and when he was an adult he decided to contact

some of his former classmates to see how they have done in life. He writes

about 4 or 5 of the kids and their lives now.

Anyway, he talks about how he needs something to fiddle with and he keeps a clip

(I think it was an alligator clip) in his pocket and when he feels anxious, he

fiddles with the clip. The author still does this to this day even as an adult.

After I read that, I thought it might help my son (who is six now and quite

restless). I spoke with his teacher and she really doesn't want him to have

toys in school (I can't blame her for that one), but when I explained why, she

agreed something might be helpful.

My son LOVES to make those bead things that you design on plastic templates with

little pegs and then you iron them together (the heat from the iron melts the

beads together). He made a heart shaped one and I told him that if he has the

heart with him, he always has a piece of me - he keeps it in his pocket or his

backpack and when he is feeling anxious he will get it and just roll it around

in his hand. It seems to help some.

I think anything that your son has an interest in will work. Or even something

as simple as a quarter or a small rubber ball (although he may be tempted to

zoom that around the room), a cap from a pen, a paperclip, a key ring, an old

key, anything small that he can roll around in his hand or in his pocket.

Good luck - hope you find something that works.

Janna

>

> Hi,

> My name is Becky and my DS 11 was recent dx w/ Asperger's. The psychologist

we are working with has suggested he have something in his hands that he can

play with in a small way to help with the restlessness and picking behavior. My

question is what? What is a good thing that is socially acceptable for him to

use. I'd like something that doesn't draw too much attention. Any ideas?

> Thanks,

> Becky

>

[Guest guest]

oh i hear you my son messes with his nose where other people think he is picking his nose but actually messing with the end of it along the edges, he used to pick at his lip like that i dont know why he switched but he did now we try to break that. sherryFrom: kellypywtorak <kellypywtorak@...>Subject: Re: ( ) Things to fiddle with? Date: Monday, March 30, 2009, 5:24 AM

My DS's teacher gave him a little plastic twisty toy to fiddle with, then he had to give it up for playing with it at the wrong time. Later he told me was jealous of his friend who had a cool fidget toy on his desk. It turns out that the other boy needs it so he will keep his hands out of his pants...and his thing in his pants. Glad we don't have that problem!> > > From: Brooklyn bestmombrooklyn@ ...> Subject: Re: ( ) Things to fiddle with?> > Date: Sunday, March 29, 2009, 9:01 AM> > > > > > > > Jan, maybe a sweatband that goes around the wrist... He can twist it around his wrist repeatetedly and pull on it, snap it...>