What is stimming?

If you have a child with a neurodivergent condition such as autism, ADHD or Tourette syndrome, then you may have noticed them display a behaviour known as stimming.

But what is stimming, and is it something that you should be worried about? Bitesize Parenting explores stimming behaviours in neurodivergent children and asks Professor Laura Crane, Director of the Autism Centre for Education and Research (ACER) at the University of Birmingham what they may mean.

What is stimming?

Stimming, also known as self-stimulatory behaviour, is something that most people do to some extent, for example tapping your foot or clicking a pen, but stims are usually more prominent for many neurodivergent people. Stimming is often an unconscious behaviour, and children might not know they are doing it, however they will be sometimes be aware of their stim. Professor Crane says: "It’s important to remember that repetitive behaviours or movements, as well as sensory seeking behaviours, are common and expected in young children. The presence of these behaviours alone doesn’t necessarily mean that a child is neurodivergent."

There are many different types of stimming behaviours. Some stims can be obvious and include things like repetitive facial movements, arm or hand flapping, pacing, rocking, or tiptoe walking, whilst others are less obvious, for example blinking or wriggling toes. Stims can also relate to visual, auditory or olfactory (sense of smell) systems, and can include vocal stims, looking at complex patterns, or seeking out certain smells.

Why do people stim?

Sensory, social or emotional overload can cause excess energy to build up inside many neurodivergent people – stimming helps release this. Stimming can help increase focus, improve mood and enable clearer decision making in neurodivergent children. Children may stim as a form of self-soothing, to regulate their senses or to cope with emotions. Stimming can also be an expression of emotion such as excitement, boredom or distress.

Laura told us: "For a long time, stims have been viewed as a ‘problem’ that need to be reduced or restricted. In schools, for example, children have sometimes been instructed to have ‘quiet hands’. Listening to, and learning from, neurodivergent adults has been fundamental in developing a better understanding of the importance of stimming and the regulatory benefits it can bring for neurodivergent children and young people."

Everyone is different and the types of stimming behaviour, the frequency stimming happens and the situations where a child stims will vary and can change quite quickly over time.

How should parents respond to stimming?

Stimming is usually beneficial for neurodivergent children and it should not be discouraged or stopped as this could encourage masking, which can lead to anxiety. Professor Crane says that: "Stimming is often a helpful and adaptive response for neurodivergent children, supporting self-regulation and wellbeing. Discouraging or suppressing stimming can place additional demands on children and may increase anxiety over time".

Stimming might be used to regulate distress, and it may be beneficial to identify what is causing the distress and try to stop that instead. Laura adds: “Our research has shown that interventions for neurodivergent people should focus on trying to reduce sources of overwhelm in the environment around them, rather than trying to change the behaviour of the individual”.

Some stimming behaviour may be harmful to your child, such as pulling hair, picking skin, or banging or hitting their head. If the stim is causing pain then you could seek professional support to help find an alternative stim.

If your child stims, Professor Crane says you should offer them support by: “Allowing stimming behaviours that are safe, and by fostering environments where they feel comfortable and accepted for who they are”.

If your child hasn't yet been diagnosed with a neurodivergent condition such as ADHD or Autism, Laura emphasises that: “It’s important not to jump to conclusions based on the presence of stims alone. There are a range of reasons why children engage in repetitive behaviours or movements. The crucial thing is ensuring that young people feel supported, understood and able to cope in the environments around them”.

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