So Jonny is some kind of undiagnosed level of Ausome and the boy stims (hand flaps)… all. the. time.
It’s how he plays. It’s how he’s always played. And we love it.
Usually it’s with a piece of fabric or a string, but also occasionally with water or with plastic balls.
I actually got him a new “string” for Christmas (the Klutz knot-tying book, complete with knot-tying strings), and Jonny didn’t much care for that kind of string.
When I asked him why, he just responded with, “I dunno. I just can’t use my imagination with that.”
It’s either the wrong texture, or too short, or too light, or … something…. just not “right” for him to PROPERLY play, and the best way to describe that feeling was simply, “I can’t use my imagination with it.”
Simply put, one provided sensory stimulation, one did not.
It made sense, the more I thought about it. After all, how would you describe the color “red” to someone who didn’t already know the concept?
It would be pretty vague and abstract.
I just got him the “wrong” kind of string.
Jonny is pretty particular. He will arm himself with scissors and attack any and everything in the house that has a string attached, if he’s in a bind. Y’know… cuz he’s resourceful.
(And apparently, the “right kind of strings” are the ones that USED to be attached to our sleeping bags. )
This boy.