My day with Hunter...

Something tells me that what I am seeing more often today is related to his ASD and not just toddlerhood. Today is my day to just "watch" Hunter. Got alot of videos that show interesting things he's doing. Some wonderful and clearly great accomplishments like moving through the TV tray tables and going over to Kyle to march with her and others... well... hummmm I think they are examples of what I think others refer to as stimming. Although I dont see these every day and all day I am seeing them as a pattern and more often. Hunter is a sensory seeker, he seeks out ways to boost his senses. To rev himself up, to feel good. Of course most kids when not chill-axing and sleeping are into things, bouncing off walls.. exploring their world LOUDLY, lol. So some of course is totally normal for his age.

What I am seeing with him today however is more of a pattern of things he is doing so makes me wonder if this is more stimming behavior. Part of me says to myself it doesnt matter what it is, he is happy at the present time so who cares what the root of it is but on the other hand I want to understand my son. Want to understand why he does these things, understand what "drives" him. Understand his ASD so I can determine what is normal kids stuff and what isnt. Understand so that I can use those things to his advantage to help him.

Most of the morning he has been playing with his "whoo whoo's" (Wants to watch Thomas the train) SO cute to hear him say it!! His eye contact has varied, some moments really great and other times not so great. Literally 50/50 today. What I have also noticed though is a new pattern of behavior. He is either doing nothing and "out to lunch" or it seems he needs to be constantly "moving" in one way or another. I've read about kids who flap etc. But have also read that each child is different. Hunter doesnt flap but he does seem to need to be doing some kind of movement today. Like lots of body movements. In the past few hours I have watched him consistantly do these over and over. Not non-stop but enough to def take notice. He will march, then jump then sway back and forth left to right, then shake his head yes, then shake it no. Sometimes obvious other times a very small twitch up and down. Have seen it while he is walking around too so not just while standing still. But it isnt for a "yes or no" reply or for any real purpose like music playing or mimicing something.... he just does it. If he is on the floor he is on all fours bouncing, or when standing often tries to jump or march while walking. Again not constantly but enough to take notice...

I was able to get a little bit a video on it, course you know Murphys Law, soon as I turn camera on he stops so it is just bits but know that he had been doing it much longer then the video shows. Hunters eye contact with me has been pretty good today, cant say I recall him looking at me this much yesterday. But like usual it is most often on his terms. Responding to my calling him is maybe 50%. Sometimes no response at all. Other times he so easily does it :) Still seeing the blank stares, they come and go and typically last from just a few seconds to 10-15.

My daycare girl Kyle is here today he did interact with her a bit more today but he is still mostly a bystander or doesnt even notice she is here, not really playing WITH her at all. He is interested in what she has not her specifically. I watched them play with the same toy for about 15 mins, she looked at him several times and was babbling up a storm, he on the other hand made a few quiet sounds and looked at her only one time for a split second near the end of the play. I've learned from my amazing therapists that this is an example of what it may look like when the ASD child allows for play but does not engage in play because there is little or no eye contact.

As I sit here she is banging on the musical xylophone and he is laying on the floor with his back to her pushing his trains back and forth. In general if she makes a new noise that most kids IMO would take note of he sometimes notices, sometimes not at all. today is seems that if he joins her in something she is doing he doesnt look at her the majority of the time and mimicing her is minimal. While he has been seen doing both he is more apt to mimic body movements more then verbal. Like if she is dancing or marching I did catch him try it to for a second.

As I write this paragraph he has had 2 blank stares..... Lasting about 5-8 secs.

Are his funny moves today from ASD and just seeking input in a peculiar kind of way or perhaps just his way of Dancing? Lol..





Watch his head in the below video, you can see the head twitch he does before he goes over to the TV with Kyle a few times for no apparent reason. Around seconds 44 and 52 of the video. I do see him doing this randomly around the house but hadnt noticed it til now that he did this on and off alot today.