Episode 102: Why Autistic Kids Need Their Stims

In this insightful and heartwarming episode of Parent Like a Psychologist, we return from the school holiday break refreshed—and ready to dive back into a crucial topic in our autism series: why stimming matters for autistic kids.

Stimming, or self-stimulatory behavior, often includes repetitive movements, sounds, or phrases like hand flapping, rocking, or echolalia. It’s frequently misunderstood or discouraged by well-meaning adults—but what if we’ve been thinking about it all wrong?

This episode reframes stimming not as a problem to fix, but as a vital form of emotional regulation and joyful expression. Drawing on inspiration from the recent Yellow Ladybugs conference (featuring Sandhya Menon from Onwards and Upwards Psychology), we explore:

🔹 Why stims help autistic children regulate their nervous systems
🔹 How suppressing stimming can lead to shutdown, masking, or emotional overwhelm
🔹 The difference between stress stims and joy stims
🔹 Supportive strategies to help your child regulate at home and school
🔹 How to shift your mindset from “How do I stop this?” to “How can I support this?”

With warmth, clarity, and practical advice, this episode will empower you to tune into your child’s unique needs, embrace their ways of coping, and support their emotional wellbeing.

💡 A must-listen for parents, educators, and professionals seeking to better understand and support autistic kids—with compassion and respect.

🎙️ Listen now and learn why stimming is more than OK—it’s essential.

🌐 Resources mentioned in the episode:

• 🧭 Free guide for advocating for your child at school: learn.leannetran.com.au/free

• 📘 Helpful resources from Sandhya Menon and Onwards and Upwards Psychology: onwardsandupwardspsychology.com.au/worksheets

• 💛 More about Yellow Ladybugs: yellowladybugs.com.au

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