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Why does the child only pinch me?

HPW

I look after a non verbal, severely autistic teenager. I love my job greatly. The child is fun to look after and it’s very rewarding job. I just don’t understand why they only ever pinch me - no one else. I could be completely out of whatever is happening and they will seek me out to pinch me! I understand sometimes it’s through frustration and I always say ‘do not pinch me, it hurts’. I’m confident the child likes me and we do have a good relationship but I’d love to know why it’s me who gets pinched on a daily basis!

  • in reply to Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia

    Anything’s worth a try as it hurts and I’d quite like it to stop! They do always say ‘do not pinch’ afterwards (in their own way - I know that’s what they are saying!). Sometimes when they are frustrated they’ll go to pinch me but I’ll just point and look stern then they (occasionally) will walk away or refrain from doing it - in fact they are getting better at doing that. Their mother was shocked to see them doing it to me (this is when we discussed it is only me he does it to) and asks how often it happens and was even more shocked when I said at least once a day! I don’t take it personally as they will - very occasionally - come and clamber on me for a cuddle which makes it all worthwhile! 

  • They could be amused by your reaction to getting pinched, and that it's funny to them. I'm not sure if they have any sensory difficulties to touch or not though, but I'd say that they might feel close to you if they're willing to interact with you, and get close enough to pinch you. They're interested in socially engaging with you. Maybe whenever they pinch you, you can make a game out of it, and pretend you're going to pinch them back (like say you're going to pinch them in a silly manner, and go towards them, but not actually do it), to see if they'll continue to engage with you or not.