We had the pleasure of attending a Passover Sedar for families with adults and children with special needs. I was so excited to attend when I heard the description of the event. I was told that if a child needs to walk around, run around, spin, vocalize, bang on the table, whatever, it was a safe place. It was a sedar where children can be themselves and parents didn't have to try to control their kids so as not to offend, bother or embarrass someone else. Everyone could be themselves and enjoy the holiday together.
It was everything and more. I also realized something about stimming I hadn't quite latched onto before. It feels good. Really good. Does your child spin? Join them sometimes, you'll have a better understanding of why they do it. Do they bang or drum on a table or clap their hands? Try it when you are stressed and want to jump out of your skin - it helps!
Dylan loves to vocally stim. He does this high pitch hum or hoot. At the sedar, several people were verbally stimming at different octives. The result gave me a similar sensation I get when I've chanted in yoga. That deep in your chest vibration and it hit me. Just like a neurotypical person chanting Ohm gives a sense of peace and wellbeing, a vocal stim (which it may sound harsh to someone else's ears) is probably bringing that person their peace.
So how does your child stim? Have you ever joined them? If you haven't - try it - you may like it!
Wonderful way to spend Passover Sedar! How lucky you are to be able to relax among people who are not shooting the look or lacking in understanding! I'm so glad you had that opportunity. It sounds like a wonder time.
ReplyDeleteYou know, I've never done a stim but that may be because my son's stim is to run back and forth between walls in a room and crash into the wall and fall to the ground... I'm thinking spinning would sound pretty good next to that! Lol!
OMG Karen, that just about made me spit my water!
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