RE: My 4 1/2ds likes to hug the store mannequins - has anyone else experienced this?

[Guest guest]

This may be either one, quirks or sensory. My 9 year old doesn't hug mannequins but he does and will hug any kind of dressed up character without notice, and sometimes harder than needed...my son has never been affraid to do that...seems kind of odd at times....

Subject: My 4 1/2ds likes to hug the store mannequins - has anyone else experienced this?To: Texas-Autism-Advocacy Date: Monday, February 14, 2011, 11:27 AM

My 4 1/2 year old son is diagnosed with PDD-NOS. Everytime we go to the mall, he wants to touch or hug the mannequins (doesn't matter if they are headless or not). I think its really cute and funny but I just wanted to know if anyone else has experienced this. He looks like he is genuniely happy giving a big hug to the mannequin. He also touches their hands and will stroke their arms.Just trying to figure out if this is a sensory issue or just a quirk. I'm thinking about writing a social story for him to explain that we really shouldn't touch or hug the mannequins. What do you think?

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[Guest guest]

This is cute when they are younger, but think about them as an older child/young adult.  My whole perspective of things changed after attending a Gerhardt conference when he talks about things like this.  Picture him age 18 hugging a mannequin.  Not so cute anymore.  When people ask now to " give me a hug " I politely ask them to please request that he shake their hand instead.  He's had a bad habit of wanting to lay his head on my upper chest.  Since he is taller than me now, he is bending down trying to do this, and as much as I want to embrace my son, if he did this to a stranger, they might actually press assault charges ('s stories were pretty scary).  In hindsight, we used to think quirks he would eventually outgrow.  Some he did; others we now wish we would have addressed when he was smaller. As always, you guys know your kiddos best and are great parents.  Just giving you a different viewpoint to look on it from our personal experience with ours. Hilda From: Texas-Autism-Advocacy [mailto:Texas-Autism-Advocacy ] On Behalf Of LinguistSent: Monday, February 14, 2011 11:49 AMTo: Texas-Autism-Advocacy Subject: Re: My 4 1/2ds likes to hug the store mannequins - has anyone else experienced this? This may be either one, quirks or sensory. My 9 year old doesn't hug mannequins but he does and will hug any kind of dressed up character without notice, and sometimes harder than needed...my son has never been affraid to do that...seems kind of odd at times....Subject: My 4 1/2ds likes to hug the store mannequins - has anyone else experienced this?To: Texas-Autism-Advocacy Date: Monday, February 14, 2011, 11:27 AM My 4 1/2 year old son is diagnosed with PDD-NOS. Everytime we go to the mall, he wants to touch or hug the mannequins (doesn't matter if they are headless or not). I think its really cute and funny but I just wanted to know if anyone else has experienced this. He looks like he is genuniely happy giving a big hug to the mannequin. He also touches their hands and will stroke their arms.Just trying to figure out if this is a sensory issue or just a quirk. I'm thinking about writing a social story for him to explain that we really shouldn't touch or hug the mannequins. What do you think? Get your own web address.Have a HUGE year through Yahoo! Small Business.

[Guest guest]

Thank you everyone for your comments. I'm just glad that I'm not alone : )

I am going to teach him through a social story why the mannequins are there, what their for, and how we shouldn't touch them or hug them. I'm also going to give him a replacement behavior.

I agree that even though its cute now, it won't be cute later.

Subject: My 4 1/2ds likes to hug the store mannequins - has anyone else experienced this?To: Texas-Autism-Advocacy Date: Monday, February 14, 2011, 11:27 AM

My 4 1/2 year old son is diagnosed with PDD-NOS. Everytime we go to the mall, he wants to touch or hug the mannequins (doesn't matter if they are headless or not). I think its really cute and funny but I just wanted to know if anyone else has experienced this. He looks like he is genuniely happy giving a big hug to the mannequin. He also touches their hands and will stroke their arms.Just trying to figure out if this is a sensory issue or just a quirk. I'm thinking about writing a social story for him to explain that we really shouldn't touch or hug the mannequins. What do you think?

Get your own web address.Have a HUGE year through Yahoo! Small Business.

Get your own web address. Have a HUGE year through Yahoo! Small Business.