Middletown Centre for Autism
Fidgeting serves a purpose! People fidget for all sorts of reasons and everyone does it, just some to a greater extent and intensity than others. Pay attention to your own fidgeting habits. Do you fiddle with jewellery when watching TV? Do you shift in your chair when listening to a webinar? Do you fidget with pens at a meeting?
Some autistic children and young people fidget because they w
ant to keep their brains alert and engaged, while others fidget because it is a familiar habit which makes them feel calm in a world which can seem chaotic. It can therefore support emotional wellbeing, engagement and learning. So next time you are tempted to say “Sit still. Stop fidgeting”, remember that fidgeting is purposeful!
Resource:
https://www.middletownautism.com/files/shares/Resources/Wed_2_June_Sensory_Fidget_Gadgets.pdf
