Behaviour & sensory

Stimming — a guide for parents and carers

The UK National Autistic Society's explainer on stimming written for families — what it is, why autistic people stim, and how to respond. Written with input from autistic adults.

National Autistic Society (UK)

Meltdowns — what they are and how to help

A practical, neurodiversity-affirming guide from the UK National Autistic Society distinguishing meltdowns from tantrums and offering ways to help a child through one.

National Autistic Society (UK)

Eye contact in autistic children — what it means and what to do

For decades, "look me in the eyes" was the first thing many interventions taught — and the first thing autistic adults wish they had not been taught. This piece explains what autistic eye contact really means, why forcing it backfires, and what to look for instead.

Sleep difficulties in autistic children — what helps

Sleep is harder for many autistic children — and that is biology, sensory wiring, and routine all stacking up. The good news is that most contributors are addressable; the right combination of small changes usually moves the needle.

Picky eating, ARFID, and autism — what helps

A high proportion of autistic children eat a narrow range of foods. What looks like fussiness is usually sensory, and sometimes ARFID. This piece walks through what is going on, what helps, and when to bring in a professional.

Autistic burnout and masking — what they are and how to recover

Autistic burnout is a distinct, recognisable state different from depression — sustained exhaustion, loss of skills, and increased sensory sensitivity, often driven by years of masking. This piece covers what the research now describes and what recovery looks like.

Sensory overload — what it is and what helps

Sensory overload is the upstream condition for many meltdowns, shutdowns, and "difficult behaviour" in autistic children. This piece covers what overload actually feels like, common triggers, and what helps in the moment and over time.

Stimming

Self-stimulating behaviour — flapping, rocking, spinning, humming, repeating sounds. Stimming helps autistic people regulate their bodies and emotions. Unless a particular stim hurts the person or others, it does not need to be stopped.

Meltdown

An involuntary response to overwhelm — crying, shouting, kicking, becoming very still. A meltdown is not a tantrum; the autistic person is not choosing it and cannot reason their way out of it. The kindest response is to reduce the input (lower sound, dim light, give space) and stay near without demanding.

Shutdown

A quieter, inward response to overwhelm — withdrawing, going still, losing words. Shutdowns can look like a child "behaving" but they are the same overload as a meltdown, expressed differently. Same response: reduce input, offer calm presence.

Sensory overload

When the senses receive more input than the nervous system can comfortably process — too much sound, too many people, harsh lights. Sensory overload is a common trigger for meltdowns and shutdowns. Quiet, dim, predictable environments help.

Sensory diet

A planned set of sensory activities sprinkled through the day to help a child stay regulated — a heavy blanket, a chew toy, a wobble cushion, a swing. The right "diet" is individual; an occupational therapist often helps design one.

Masking

Hiding autistic traits to fit in — forcing eye contact, suppressing stims, copying neurotypical social scripts. Masking takes a lot of energy and is linked to anxiety and burnout, especially in girls and women. A safe space to unmask is protective.

Executive function

The mental processes that help us plan, start, switch between, and finish tasks. Many autistic people have spiky executive-function profiles — strong in some areas, support-needing in others. Visual schedules and predictable routines often help.

Proprioception

The sense of where your body is in space — knowing your hand is behind your back without looking. Proprioception comes from the muscles and joints. Many autistic people seek extra proprioceptive input (squeezes, jumping, heavy work) because it helps them feel grounded.

Interoception

The sense of what is happening inside your body — hunger, thirst, needing the toilet, the start of an emotion. Interoception is often different in autistic people, which is why a child can suddenly seem desperate to eat or use the bathroom — they noticed the signal late, not because they were ignoring it.

Self-regulation

The ability to manage your own state — energy, attention, emotions. Self-regulation develops over many years, in autistic and non-autistic children alike. Stimming, deep pressure, breaks, and predictable routines are some of the ways autistic people self-regulate.

Co-regulation

When an adult lends their calm to help a child regulate — staying close, breathing slowly, lowering their voice. Co-regulation is how children learn self-regulation over time; it is not babying them. It is especially important during and after meltdowns and shutdowns.

Monotropism

A theory developed by autistic researchers describing how autistic attention tends to flow deeply into one thing at a time, rather than spreading across many things. Monotropism helps explain deep focus, transition difficulty, and how interruptions can feel jarring or painful for autistic people.