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Hello and Help!

Leepyliz

Hello there I am new to the Community site and it looks like an amazing place for support and advice Smile I am mum to my wonderful 5 year old daughter who was diagnosed with ASD 2 years ago, and my gorgeous 6 month old son - I certainly have my hands full!

I'm looking forward to sharing stories and experiences with you all as we are going through a lot of difficulties at the moment. I have loads of questions but one main issue that I'd like some advice on:

My daughter has recently started to tear the wall paper in our house, she has almost stripped her bedroom wall and we now have a big patch missing on our staircase (she tears a piece off each time she goes up or down stairs). She knows it's wrong but can't seem to resist picking at it!

Can anyone suggest what we can do to distract her from doing this before we have to redecorate the whole house?! She is off school for the Easter holidays so I know that change of routine and boredom are playing a big part in this new habit. She likes to carry objects around and loves squashy things like blue tac and rubber toys.

Any suggestions very welcome!

  • Hi everyone thank you for your suggestions! Our house is covered in textured wallpaper so we will have to redecorate eventually - Lou31 can I please borrow your son he sounds great at stripping paper?! It's definitely a sensory thing for my daughter as she likes the sensation and sound of the paper tearing. She also likes to pick at things including the keys on our laptop keyboard. We had to buy a new one last week as it had no keys left!

    The NAS very kindly posted the same question on their Facebook page and I was overwhelmed by the responses from people - 158 replies! Most people said redecorate the house but they also gave some great suggestions to distract her from doing this. I've now got a huge list to try including: a sensory box filled with different textured paper that she can tear up when she has the urge; velcro or vinyl stickers on her bedroom walls that she can remove and put back; hang streamers from the bannister so she can run her hands through them when going up and down stairs; use reward charts with stickers and a social story; give her old catalogues and magazines to tear up; give her blue tac or bubble wrap to carry around to occupy her hands etc.

    Here is the link to the discussion if you'd like to read the responses yourselves, you never know some of them might help you!

    https://www.faceboain ok.com/NationalAutisticSociety/posts/10151914893341599?stream_ref=10

    Thanks again and I will let you know how we get on!

  • Have you tried distracting her?  Also if there are little ragged edges and bits of wallpaper sticking out I could see why she can't resist pulling at it.  Could you try smoothing the  paper down?  Even cellotape it to the wall so that it doesn't catch her eye.

    Another thing to try is a, reward system.  Say every time she finds a rough or sticky out bit , she tells you and she gets a reward.  If she helps you fix it she gets another reward.

    Also try introducing her to a new activity at home that will distract her.  Gardening maybe.

    How this helps.

  • Hi there LeepyLiz - I have a 6yr old with ASD and a 4yr old and a 1yr old so I definately know how busy it can be!!!  We too have this wall paper issue.  I wish I had an answer for you but if you want to know the truth... we're redecorating!!!!!!!!!  On the upside, it has sped up the stripping wall paper side of the job as he was an extremely proficient worker!  The house we moved into had very textured wall paper so I was not surprised to find bits missing here and there!  I'll be interested to see what others say! Laughing

  • Hi Liz, welcome to the forum from another forum-newbie :)

    What you describe about your daughter is oddly familiar to me - I used to rip little bits of wallpaper too Tongue Out I don't know, maybe it's the sensation? I know the feeling and sound of ripping has some kinda mysterious allure to me - have you asked your daughter about this? I don't know how much talking 5 year olds do... But when you get the chance, do ask!