Stimming refers to self-regulatory movements or repetitive behaviors such as hand-flapping, rocking, spinning objects, repeating sounds, or tapping. These behaviors can help individuals—especially autistic individuals—manage overwhelming emotions, sensory experiences, excitement, or stress.

While some stims may appear unusual to others, many are harmless and serve an important adaptive purpose. Modern, ethical therapy recognizes that suppressing benign stimming solely to make a child appear “less autistic” is not appropriate and can be harmful.

Instead, clinicians focus on understanding the function of the stim. If a behavior is safe and self-regulating, it is typically respected. Only stims that cause harm or significantly interfere with learning are addressed, and even then, the goal is to teach a safer or more functional alternative—not to eliminate self-expression.

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• A child flaps their hands quickly when excited.
  
• A child rocks back and forth to calm themselves in a noisy environment.
  
• A child spins the wheels of a toy car repeatedly because it feels soothing.

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Stimming is often a core part of an individual’s natural self-regulation and identity. Recognizing stimming as meaningful reduces unnecessary stigma, prevents harmful interventions, and promotes a more respectful understanding of autistic behavior.

Supporting safe stimming helps children manage their emotions and sensory needs while promoting well-being and autonomy.

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