Good. I approach slightly differently for these kinds of behaviors. Because our kids are targets for molesters who are hooping we don’t explain anything sexual to our kids, I feel I need to explain to him a little about sex, why it’s awkward to touch your penis at school, and more importantly, why other people should not be touching him there. So the -keep your penis private and tell me if anyone touches you in that way- conversation.

Is he verbal? I have heard both that it can be a stim and also 7/8 is age when my son had many questions about body parts etc. and all swirling around sex subject. It’s part of journey. I read the parents guide to talking about sex by Janet Rosenzweig and found it helpful to understand how to talk with my younger child in healthy ways and realizing if I didn’t find a way to talk about these things that it might be even more confusing for him. What also might be confusing is if he knows when he touches it that it feels good so he wants to do it more, and if you discourage that behavior especially at school, he should get some sort of explanation why- in an age appropriate explanation. Otherwise he might feel confused and shamed and not understand if no one explains it to him. And it will help him to understand where he can and cannot do that stim and why that is. I found it useful to look to books to figure out what that age-appropriate explanation was.

How would this work if son is not verbal mine is but moderate not able to have a back and fourth conversation his 8 and has started doing this a lot

@A MyAutismTeam Member Yes my son is verbal. I think it does probably feel good and that's why he keeps doing it. He doesn't understand it isn't appropriate to do at school. Missing that social behavior component like most who are on the spectrum. I asked his teacher to reach out to the special ed teacher for ideas. I found one article that suggested distracting them with something they like whenever they start the inappropriate behavior. Sounds like classical conditioning. Hopefully it gets sorted out. Thanks for the input.

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A MyAutis...

My son will lay with on his stomach with his legs straight out when he is constipated or gasey.