A comment at the park about 'quiet hands' really bothered me

I was at the playground with my kid and heard another parent tell their child to stop flapping and have 'quiet hands'. They said it was 'distracting the other kids'. That phrase hit me wrong. My own child stims by rocking, and it helps them handle the noise and crowds. Trying to stop a natural coping method seems more about making others comfortable than helping the child. It made me think we focus too much on making autistic people look 'normal' instead of accepting their needs. What's a better way to handle stimming in public without making the child feel bad?

2 comments

2 Comments

ivanpatel21d ago

My nephew does the hand thing when he's overwhelmed. We just say "you're good, bud" and let him be. Trying to stop it just makes everything worse for him.

the_kelly21d ago

Read a study that backs up what @ivanpatel is doing.