|
Post by nicksmom on May 29, 2004 14:20:16 GMT -5
We're having a problem with Nicholas (21 mos.) who has been pulling hair (especially at Daycare). He's been doing it for months at home (which is why I got my hair cut short). All our therapists agree that it's not behavioral, but sensory. He has always gently stroked my hair for comfort (reading books, bottle time, etc) but now it is a real issue at Daycare with the other children. We were handed a "Incident Report" last week which really had us quite upset.
Has anyone had a similar experience, and if so...how did you correct it?
thanks.
|
|
|
Post by justinsmom on May 29, 2004 22:00:25 GMT -5
Justin use to be a hair puller, it was so bad he would have a handful of hair and us with a bald spot . For us we kept taking his hand when he did it, held it and said love so and so and stroke the hair and say nice. Now he only pulls hair when his one of his sisters are messing with him so he retaliates in the brotherly manner
|
|
|
Post by maryj2 on May 30, 2004 18:14:06 GMT -5
Hi! My son who is now 4 also used to be a hair puller. He has two sisters and he used to pull their hair every chance he got. I don't think it was a sensory issue though. He would pull their hair and then move away fast. We would grab his hand and tell him "No pull" and show him how to softly touch their hair. We don't know if this was the magic that made it stop or he just grew out of it. Anyway I know you are frustrated and I can relate but it won't last forever. Mary
|
|
|
Post by jennanne on May 30, 2004 18:32:44 GMT -5
My son has been a "hair stroker" for about 4 years(he's 7). He loves to check out people's hair but he is very gentle, just patting. I would handle the hair pulling situation like you would with any other child, "NO", time out or whatever other form of discipline you use. My son has always responded well to a harsh "NO".
|
|
|
Post by ALLISA on May 30, 2004 22:14:42 GMT -5
Erin ( now 4) was a hair puller, too. Like your son, everyone felt it was sensory and not behavioral, but that doesn't really matter to the one getting their hair pulled, now does it ! Erin is a pretty easy read... meaning I KNOW when she is going to pull... she gets a dertimeind look that I can't really describe and she ONLY pulls hair that is straight & blonde...never dark, never curly who knows why ?? Gettin back to sensory stuff.... we did joint compressions on her and we did a brushing therapy. The whole concept with both was to give her the input & stimlus she constanly looked for and then she wouldn't need to seek it further. We did it every few hours and I think it was good for her. She still has moments that I can sense she is going to pull, which is why I think it is real important to address it like every one else said and be firm with "NO" and modeling "nice" and showing her gentle strokes. Erin has a favorite puppet (Lambchop) and I use her a lot to model for Erin... Lambchop will pull Erin's hair (gently of course.... just so she gets it) and then I will hold Lambshops hands in front of her ( just as I do with Erin) and tell the puppet "no, no... we do nice" and mimic the gentle touch... everything that I do to Erin when she pulls. She can feel what Lampchop did to her and see Lambchop also in "trouble". Now I see her doing it herself to the puppet. It's silly, but whatever works. I think some kids (like Erin) are sensory seekers and that needs to be addressed, but the behavior also needs to be addressed because it can become a behavioral problem. If you have any other questions on brushing or joint compressions, e-mail me.... I think there are some old posts here, htough... I know I have posted quite a few times about it. Erin is such a sensory seeker... also likes rocking, banging, knocking things over, anything that vibrates !!... they are all forms of gaining input. Does that sound familar at all ? And, yes... they do outgrow !!
|
|
|
Post by nicksmom on May 31, 2004 13:48:12 GMT -5
Oh Alissa, how familiar that sounds. Nicholas (2 yrs) is a sensory seeker with capital S's. Always rocking, banking, knocking things on the ground...the lounder the bang the better! During one of his extreme hair pulling days at Daycare, the woman tried to tell me that once Nicholas had a two-handed grip on his classmates hair, Nicholas tried to bite him. Of course all parents say...not my child, and since Nicholas has never even shown an inkling on biting, I realized that he was trying to bang his chin on Jack's head...he does that to us and on the couch, etc. He's a real headbanger. I will take a look around here for older posts on the joint compress (we used to do that on his knees) and the brush therapy. Anything that will help, we'll try. Thanks. Oh look.....I did a smiley face!
|
|
|
Post by amyzimoski on Jun 1, 2004 11:12:39 GMT -5
My daughter too was a hair puller and a biter. We constantly grabbed her hand and told her no pulling...gentle gentle. I truely believe this is just a fase they go through.
Amy
|
|
|
Post by Alice on Jun 1, 2004 13:54:14 GMT -5
Our Luke (4 and 1/2) is doing such things(pulling, throwing), because he is expressing himself and the problem is the poor speech. Oh well.... Alice
|
|
|
Post by Mary_L. on Jun 1, 2004 19:30:57 GMT -5
I hate to tell you this but we have been dealing with this for a couple of years now~just ask Cathy's daughter Katie~LOL. We have tried everything~telling him no while holding his hand firmly, telling him gentle and showing him how to touch hair nicely, even giving him time outs everytime he did it and to be honest it hasn't worked so far. He knows he is doing something he shouldn't because after he's told no, he kisses the person on top of the head~so he does know how to be gentle. It has gone down a bit~he doesn't do it as often but I thought for sure he would have stopped by now. So I wish you luck and hope you have more success then we have.
|
|