03/27/2026
If your child stims-by hand-flapping, rocking, humming,spinning, or any other repetitive movement-you may have been told it's something to stop. At Higher Ground, we take a different approach.
What is Stimming?
Stimming is a way the nervous system seeks or processes sensory input. It's not random, it serves a purpose:
-Regulation: calming when overwhelmed or expressing excitement when happy
-sensory balance: Blocking out painful sounds/lights or providing deep pressure the body craves
-Communication: showing joy, anxiety, or frustration when words are hard to find or if your kiddo has difficulty communicating in general
For many individuals, including those who are neurotypical, stimming is essential to feeling safe and regulated! From time to time most of us have engaged in stimming behaviors, from twirling your hair or tapping your leg, these behaviors are truly just apart of being human! At Higher Ground, we dont view stimming as "wrong" and the only time that our BCBA's would target stimming behaviors, is if the behaviors are unsafe to the client or their peers. We don't change who children are, we help them thrive.