I bored VERY easily when I was little. My parents and grandparents have described me as "always needing to be entertained," lol! I couldn't just make up stories like most kids. I couldn't pretend a box was a boat, for example....what's the point if it's not "the real thing?" I've always played with toys a little differently, too. I couldn't play with dolls in a "typical" fashion; I'd do their hair or display them, but then think to myself, "ok, now what?" I've always been (and still am!) drawn to toys that DO things like light up, curl into a ball (Popples, anyone?), or make sounds. Once video games became a part of my life, it was like I FINALLY found something that was stimulating enough to keep me occupied for periods of time! Sonic the Hedgehog has been my special interest since I first played it on a vacation to Florida in 1992 at age 9 :)

It doesn't sound like his stimming is out of boredom, but rather, sensory seeking. I'm a seeker, too :)

My son rarely sits still. He is nonverbal. I feel like he stims when there is nothing available that he finds interesting. Like string, food, swimming, swinging, and comic books. It seems like stimming and pacing keep him from being bored when there is no external stimuli he finds engaging.......

That makes sense.. thank you so much for responding

Thank you so much for responding. That makes total sense. So, in my sons case, what would you make of that? When we are in his OT session and we talk about his stimming, boredom often gets brought up. That is why I'm so eager for answers from my fellow ASD fam.