touching other kids/personal space

[Suzanne1972]

my 7.5 year old has really started to touch people. he always did but now its really getting to be all the time. every where we go he will go up to people and go behind them usually and stroke their backs ( one movement from neck sliding down).. usually its other kids. I have tried to redirect him but by then the tic has been done and the other kid looks to him in semi disgust or very weirdly, ESP. if they are strangers to my son.. I usually just say "hey Devon remember personal space"- but that of course doesnt help when hes ticcing and not obviously when hes thinking of anything but i HAVE TO TOUCH RIGHT NOW. I think I am saying it more for the benefit of the kids and parents. he will also go and hug them from behind or touch their head or face. he has NO sense of personal space!!! he also has aspergers which does NOT help with that or his ability to process and communicate.


so- how do i redirect or deal with this? its obviously making the other kids ( and a few parents too!) really unconfortable... i have tried to talk to him about maybe finding something else he can touch like his own arm or leg etc.. however my child really doesnt process things well
any help???

Su

[gaurdianAQ]

ummmm Im not sure what the current situation is for you now but maybe show him how other people feel by randomly going up to him and stroking his back and randomly doing things like that I dunno if he subjective to reverse psychology

[hyzenthlay]

This can be very difficult to control. It's something I've been doing for much of my 45 years. I know it's unacceptable, but so many times I just cannot help myself. Really sucks.