The Stim List

VISUAL:

dangling strings

shaking toys

wiggling fingers--in front of or to the side of face---

     most often in exactly the same spot

lining up toys

repeatedly stacking toys and knocking them down --excessively

spinning wheels on toy cars/trucks

pushing toy trucks and cars while tilting head to watch wheels

watching out the window at cars driving by

staring out window

watching dust specks in the air

watching ceiling fans

staring at dining room lights

looking sideways and/or upside down at TV

nose on TV

flipping pages without looking at pictures

flipping toys

wall walking

opening/shutting drawers and doors

spinning bowls

spinning toys

walking in patterns

pacing

splashing

watching water

running sand/beans etc. through hands while watching

spinning coins

looking at maps with nose about 1" away

following roads on map with nose

box hopping or

                         lining up chairs, laundry baskets, boxes and storage

             containers in a path and stepping from one to another       rocking:

            from foot to foot

             back and forth while sitting

             side to side while sitting     

throwing or dropping toys over and over

throwing toys over shoulder

picking fuzz

shredding paper

looking out car window with peripheral vision (while giggling)

walking down hall with head to one side

standing on head on furniture

running in circles

rewind video while watching it rewind

excessive drawing

rubbing pencils together

watching own reflection in doorknobs, toasters, windows

               at night, oven door, shiny faucets, tv screen

               when off, clean cars, blank computer

             screens and mirrrors

holding up small toys (usually characters) in front of

             TV while video is going

perseverating on Thomas the Tank or other train stuff

turning head in light patterns made by blinds

obsessively pouring a "slinky" from hand to hand

watching a yoyo with peripheral vision over and over

multiple cartwheels frequently and excessively

head shaking

spinning own body or twirling around

twirling self under own arm which is against a wall

dangling pieces of grass or twigs

twirling long hair or braids (girls) in peripheral vision

VERBAL or AUDITORY:

blurting out loud and/or high pitched noises

Repetition of odd noises/sounds

talking to self-- excessive and nondirective

echolalia of phrases, movies, songs........

humming

nose humming

banging on everything

throat sound--compulsive

pounding toys or books

excessive giggling

excessive pretend play

electronic games that repeat

inappropriate giggling (often a sign that they are stimming)

repeating a video scene over and over

telling the same story over and over

constantly singing

reciting alphabet over and over

TACTILE:

chewing on insides of cheeks

rubbing clothing between fingers

biting fingernails

chewing fingernails

scratching obsessively/to bleeding

head banging

teeth grinding

spitting

grabbing someone's arm with both hands and squeezing with head against arm

rubbing face/hands

bobbing up and down with top part of body while sitting in chair

sucking on tongue

VESTIBULAR:

spinning

rocking

swinging

OTHER:

excessive pretending

acting out a movie scene repeatedly

sharpening and sharpening and sharpening pencils

writing numbers or days of the week over and over