'Fidgety'

Hi, my daughter has had similar fidget habits for years and it’s socially disruptive as well. She tends to chew her fingers (sometimes till they bleed), pick scabs, unravel her socks, unravel the hems of t-shirts etc.

Kush balls help, especially if the teacher keeps a stock and other kids are allowed to fidget with them too. At home and in the car we have found that bubble wrap used in packaging (aka “poppy”) is a great fidget toy — not appropriate for school however because of noise.

You might also ask an OT about small finger caps — I don’t know what they are really called, but they are a little rubber thing you put over your finger and you can rub it.

Is there possible a sensory element for your son as well?

Joshuah my 6yo (Autistic mild) has the same problem, has the teacher contributed this anxiety to an instance, tests? people? being called on? etc. during tests he could possibly have a sensory calming item ie. gum if acceptable, a straw to chew on, a weighted vest, and well a hat with weights,he also can be allowed to take a short walk if needed, i made Josh several bean bags 1 has rice, 1 has flat marbles, 1 has a ballon with glue in it, Josh’s class can use his items; i don’t like to single him out, but this has helped prevent meltdowns, impulsiveness, inattention, and well his need to make odd noises, Josh scratches his head also, i took a base ball cap and put fishing weights in the cuff, hs anyone mentioned Tactile defensiveness? if not try to have an OT evaluation for that it could be steming from sensory processing.

Hope

All very good suggestions. My son has sensory integration issues and did fidget at school. He really only does it with certain teachers.
I am not sure if certain teachers cause him anxiety or if certain teachers did not somehow stimulate him.

Perhaps if you son had a chance for more movement in the classroom. Is this teacher making them sit without a break. Perhaps if the teacher noticed the fidgeting she could send him on an errand to see if the movement helped.

My son has a teacher this year that I would really have thought he would have fidgeted with. She is a yeller. They are not allowed to get up at all. He isn’t fidgeting. I am attributing this to interactive metronome because I have seen improvements in other sensory integration/attention issues as well since he did this.

My daughter has a similar habit of twirling her hair, so much so that on occasssion she has had a bald spot or two. I never thought of a fidget ball, thanks for mentioning it.

there is a seat cushion which is supposed to help_ive seen it in school supply catalogs-they have to actively keep balance or something

Josh had that last year, he played with it more than anything, he threw it like a frisbie, bounced it like a ball i observed a regional class using that and most of those children utilized it well, but from my experience my child stayed in trouble with it.

My daughter fights off her fidgetieness by drawing. She draws in the lines on the side of the paper or wherever there is free space. She says if she does not “doodle” then she would have to fidget in her seat. The teachers have come to accept this approach seeing it does not disrupt the class. She also went on to say that this doodling helps her to listen better. She has demonstarted this time and again. In classes where this was allowed she did not “squirm” in her seat and picked the information up better. If required to be still, listen and just take “proper” notes she did not do as well. Her notebooks look like a cartoonist pad but she does get good grades.