For this step, you should be working closely with the child’s occupational therapist (OT).  The OT can help work on the sensory piece of this while you help address the communication piece.  

The first thing you must do is identify what the behavior is and what sensory need it is meeting.  For example, you may identify the behavior as flapping, rocking, biting, etc.  Then, write down all of the times that you notice that behavior happen for a while.  Make note of what the child was doing before, during, and after the behavior.  You may notice that the child always starts doing the behavior when he’s been sitting for too long, when he’s tired, or when he’s excited. 

Also, make note of what sensory input the child is probably getting from that behavior.  For example, if your child is flapping his hands, he is probably getting sensory input in his fingers.  If he is rocking, he is probably receiving sensory input about balance and where his body is in space.  Take some notes that will help you come up with some ideas of other behaviors you can try to replace it with.

Again, you should be working with the occupational therapist on this step as well.  The OT will have ideas about what types of behaviors will provide different types of sensory input.  Keep in mind that what is calming to one child may be alerting to another child.  The OT will be able to help you sort all of this out.

What you will want to do now is try some other behaviors that will replace the self-stimulatory behavior but that are safer or less distracting. Keep in mind that the child’s new behavior may not look entirely normal either, but we are going for more safe or less distracting. Once the child gets used to the new behavior, you can always try to teach him a more normal-looking behavior later if that is what he wants. You will want to try several different replacement behaviors to find what works best for the child. Keep trying them until one seems to stick or resonate with the child.

Use this chart to determine which replacement behaviors might be appropriate to try with your child based on the information you collected during the last step.

Click Here to Download the “Replacing Unwanting Stimming Workbook”

Possible Replacement Behaviors

Child Has Been Sitting Too Long: 

• Have child request a movement break
• Offer alternative seating for the child, such as a chair vs. floor, sitting on a pillow, sitting on a small exercise ball, etc.
• Offer child a fidget toy to play with while sitting (something small and non-distracting that can keep his hands busy)

Child is Tired: 

• Offer child a short nap (if possible)

Child is Excited:

• Replace with clapping hands
• Replace with squeezing hands together

Child is Angry/Upset: 

• Replace with squeezing/biting/hitting a pillow
• Have child request break/go for a walk
• Do Self-Calming Strategies

Child is Flapping/Sensory Input in Fingers: 

• Replace with squeezing hands or pushing hands together
• Offer child a stress ball or squeezable toy to play with
• Replace with child sitting on hands (to feel that pressure)

Child is Rocking/Sensory Input for Balance and Body: 

• Have the child rock side to side instead of front to back. This looks more like swaying along to music than the traditional rocking. It’s also easier to keep his eyes on the teacher this way.
• Offer child a big hug, squeeze him tightly all over his torso to get that pressure
• Have child wear a tight vest or shirt. They make special sensory shirts that hug the torso with gentle pressure.  You can also just buy compression-style sports shirts that are a size too small.
• Have the child request a break to go roll on the floor. Or, roll him up in a blanket like a burrito. He may miss a few minutes of whatever you were doing, but it will be worth it if he can focus when he gets back.

Child is Biting Himself or Others/Sensory Input to Mouth: 

• Replace with giving the child something to chew on. They make special jewelry that is designed for children to chew on, even big kids!
• Offer the child a bite to eat or a piece of gum.
• Offer the child a chewy, sour candy. This can alert the senses in the mouth.

Child is Biting His Arm/Sensory Input to Arm

• If the child doesn’t respond to the mouth techniques, maybe he needs the sensory input in his arm. Try teaching him to squeeze his arm in that place or you can do it for him.

Child is Scratching Himself/Needs Deep Pressure Sensory Input

• Try offering the child some deep pressure when he does this. That means, tight squeezes all over his body.
• You can also have him lay down and roll a big ball over his body. I’ve even lightly squished a child between two bean bags. The child will tell you with his actions if he likes it or not. Don’t keep trying something he’s not comfortable with, but one of them may work.

Keep trying until you find one (or a few) that your child seems to respond well to. You may have to help your child do these things or do them for him for now.

If the child is able to do some of these strategies on his own, keep showing him how to do it and then let him try by himself.  Keep practicing until he can do it with just a verbal reminder.  Then, every time he starts doing the harmful self-stimulatory behavior, remind him to use the new strategy. 

If it is a strategy that the child cannot do alone, teach him how to ask for the strategy to be done for him.  For example, if the strategy is to go take a movement break where he gets rolled up like a burrito, have him verbally ask for a break.  Or, have him go find a “break card” (I use a red square with an X on it) and hand it to you.  You can place these strategically in places he may need it.  If the child is not able to request these techniques at this time, that’s ok.  Make sure that the adults in his life keep doing them for him but keep talking to the child about what they’re doing and why they’re doing it.  He may start to pick that up on his own and eventually ask for it. Keep working on these replacements and hopefully you will make the new behavior just as strong as the old behavior was.