While most people understand that autistic people don't like strong sensory input, there are times when they crave certain textures, sights and sounds, etc. We explore that in this video. #autism #sensory #texture #education
With me in the past, I grew up with a blanket which I named Linus, and I didn’t even know at the time that the Charlie brown character that carried around a blanket named Linus was a thing, but it was pretty much, my imaginary friend type a blanket, and I could never fall asleep without it Now I’ve grown out of it and I don’t really care if it’s there or not, but it used to be a thing for me personally that I would need it and I would you know rub the material on the outer edge which was a certain I don’t know exactly what type of material but a Smooth kind of material that I would like run my lips or my fingers across to make me fall asleep easier or make me feel a little more comfortable in the house in the past.
I can really relate to this in many ways. I am autistic but even if im not diagnosed yet I want to go get it one day. And it is weird how I just get so obsessed with certain people and things
My mum used to get mad that I touched every soft thing at a store, but now she's used to it and actually points some soft things out. All of my stuffies, blankets, and pillows have the same soft texture as the blanket that Connor was touching. I can't sleep without at least a soft blanket. And all of my shirts have to have a silk like texture. I like the sound of dog toy squeakers and my mum still gets annoyed when I squeak them in stores.
This is probably the single biggest reason why I think I might be autistic. I'm hugely obsessed with textures in feel, taste, ... and there's also a lot of textures that I hate to the point of having to avoid them
My now 4 year old, has always liked this bear (cute enough it was the one his dad gave me before I even got pregnant) he has taken that bear everywhere with us. It's purple and blue. Perfect size for him to carry around. It still goes to school with him and therapies, stores doctors everything. It's his comfort item for sure. He has recently started liking all stuffed animals, just got him a large stuffed rhino for his birthday. But nothing with ever replace bear bear. Wish I could post a picture here 🥰 Edit: he is also on the spectrum both my boys are. And if he doesn't have bear bear it can be a very bad time. I've turned around and went back to the house just to grab it.
I’m not sure about my autistic cousin Trey, if he had some kind of texture obsession. He likes playing games on Electronic devices, I know that something he enjoys playing on. You did a good video on explaining Alester obsession with flannel blankets, here’s a very bright child of yours. Can’t wait to see you again next time.😊😊😊
Not really sensory-seeking but, just yesterday, my family wanted to have a fun night out and I was excited to get out of the house and feel the cold air. But, at one point, my sister accidentally touched her arm to my lips and, due to my OCD, I can not function well if something touches my lips so I have to clean them. It sounds weird, but it is very hard for me to ignore it when the feeling lingers. I didn't say anything about it as we dropped my older sister at her friend's house because I assumed we would get to a drinking fountain or someplace before we got something to eat but we didn't. We got food and parked in a church parking lot to eat. I couldn't bring myself to eat because I couldn't wash my hands and lips. I started having a meltdown and my mom just thought I was having a fit. We had to go home before doing anything fun because of that. It's a perfect example of how one little thing can affect someone on the spectrum. But, in the sensory-seeking topic, I crave smells. In fact, I put a lot of lotion on my hands and then smell my hands in public. My family has tried to make me stop because neurotypicals find it gross or annoying but I use it to stim and, after a while, they just learned to live with me doing it.
I’m like this. I’m 27 and I still sleep with certain pillowcases and blankets. I have always had an obsession with certain fabric. I have autism among many other diagnoses.
I have autism and I am the same way with soft stuff. I have this blanket that is really soft and when I am stressed I will knead it like a cat. It is very calming and makes me happy. I also love squish mellows because they are so soft. I have trouble sleeping if I can’t feel it and will get fussy without my soft stuff. I also can’t stand anything that has a rough or scratchy texture.
I love silk, velvet furry feeling, I think it’s just like it. My son loves that soft furry feeling but it’s his bed blanket and it has to be on the soft side.
We can never thank you enough for your videos. Could you help me understand the levels of autism vs the spectrum. What would be their future especially moderate or level 2 since they are in the middle. You explain things so much better. Thank you
I’m also autistic and I still sleep with my favorite baby blanket that I had since I was a baby. When I was little, I used to take it everywhere in the van. But now I only sleep with it. I can’t sleep without it. If it’s not there in the middle of the night and I have to search around my bed to find it and then go back to sleep.
And I take FOREVER in the clothing stores! It has to be the RIGHT TEXTURE! Mainly polyester and something soft! And nothing can’t my neck or I feel like choking!
Great video great info thanks so much I love your channel 🎉 coming from a parent of an autistic 4 year old son :) We can relate to most of the things you talk about…it’s very comforting to see we are not alone 😊❤
This is so real to me. I've had my favorite skirt that I've warn every day since I've got it. Idk what this skirt is made of cuz I cut off the tag on it (ew tags) but whatever it is it feels SO GOOD. My least favorite day of the month is laundry day when my mom makes me wear pants so she can wash my skirt AND how I can't even wear it directly after it's washed because of how gross hot laundry feels. It's a struggle on those days
Maybe it would help if you had another skirt to wear instead of pants? I hate pants but unfortunately, because I was "assigned male at birth" that's what I am expected to wear everyday. Give me a dress or skirt any day of the week. I actually have a Gender Dysphoria diagnosis but everyone thinks it's so "evil" or something. 😢
@@BBC600 frfr pants suck. also getting another skirt would probably work but I'd need to find a skirt *very* similar to my current one which may be a tricky lol(I got the skirt at a thrift store)
It's andy from twitch we met on heartsupport. I also watched ur streams for a bit. I am also autistic and my hyperfixation rn is squishmellows and soft blankets I love em currently can't sleep without em 🙃
When I was a kid, I used to touch people's jumpers and seek out certain soft fabrics. I remember getting a weird look about this once. Fast forward about 4 decades and I finally bought a Squishmallow for myself, because now I know I'm autistic and I'm finally learning what my sensory needs are. Finally! It's not too late, but I wish I had known this earlier and that my sensory needs were acknowledged as a child.
I thank the creator of all things and this universe for your family and for your strength in bringing these things forward to help others when you could have kept them private, I’ve gained early knowledge to watch my son’s behavior with him being 1 year old and displaying some signs like head banging and seeking his waffle textured blankets. THANK YOU and may the universe keep you all within the light.
Hi, I am 11 years old and I have ADHD. I know ADHD and autism are not the same things but I do now that they over lap. I love a specific polyester top sheet that I have. It is pink with sprinkles, stars, lollypops, bows, hearts, ice cream, and cup cakes.
My relationship with polyester is the polar opposite of Alistair with flannel. I literally cannot stand to touch it. Not even to hold it or touch it! If I ever had to wear it I’d have an instant meltdown. It literally makes me sweat to even look at it and makes me extremely agitated to have it on. So, in the opposite kind of sensory way, I can definitely understand Alistair with his flannel.
Wow, this is like a replica of my daughter who is almost 5 and has her soft blanket that she must have she sucks her thumb and rubs it on her face, we have mass upset if she needs it and it's not there. She is under diagnosis currently I actually showed her this video and she was so happy to see the boy doing the same thing she had never seen it before. Thanks for sharing and making is not feel so alone. God Bless you all 😊
NT version of this would be a kid with there favorite stuffed animal. My sister lost hers once when she was like 4, no way she was gonna sleep and the days after she was really upset. luckily someone found it and posted it... but she really needed her stuffed animal, Me as someone with autism get really upset if i don't have my backpack on me. Can't leave home without, I just really don't leave. Can't even try i just freeze and it would not happen. If I were to be dragged outside without it i would definetly have a meltdown.
I'm possibly on the spectrum and have thought I am for a long time now. I've always had a texture obsession for hair, ever since I was really little I would rub my mom or dad's hair between my fingers because of how smooth(?) it was and now (16) I still do this only with my own hair. I get really anxious and agitated whenever I can't do it but thankfully I have hair on my head so I haven't had to worry about it for years. When I was younger and didn't have hair I'd throw a tantrum if I didn't have the texture to feel. I've been trying to get my family to go take me to get diagnosed with autism and this could definitely help me show them some things that I do that are signs of autism and just things autistic people do. Thank you
I’m on the spectrum too, and I remember one time when I was 14 I went on a camping trip with my youth group and one of my friends learned I like to sleep with a particular long, blue beach towel to bed, and when I brought it with me to camp, he thought I was being stupid. So I tried to stop sleeping with it for years, but nowadays I’ve learned to embrace this sensory thing. I still don’t sleep with it, however I now sleep with a large fleece blanket around my body and that soothes me into sleep.
I quit several jobs because of dresscode but I've learned how to get around most issues with golf pants and extra large shirts. I stretch my collars out too. It's helps me to let myself stim but I try to keep it from getting too wild looking, people kinda know what I'm doing so it's not confusing or disruptive. I never addressed my special needs so a lot of things jumped out at me when I became an adult. But things are easier now that more people understand autism.
Omg I had a special blanket still do I remember having intense meltdowns when it was put in the wash and when it came out, it smelt so different. Remember, I will always have it up against me because I liked the coldness, and I also used to sniff it all the time and chewing it and I would never leave it.
Im almost 25 and struggled for so long, have my weighted blanket, my handmade crochet rabbit comfort blanket, (bit obsessed with rabbits) and i suck my thumb they are all night time things that help me sensory wise. Calm and settle. Undiagnosed its sticky when family judge. I struggling with other things too like sounds, structure, routine, incontinence. I hate feeling lost, trapped unable to Express or explain how I feel.
Is there a reason your not diagnosed? I believe I'm on the spectrum, I'm 31 I have 4 kids, my two youngest (both boys) are diagnosed with ASD, and I'm pretty sure my oldest daughter is too. Just not to the level that my boys are on. I didn't think anything of it when she was little b c she was my first and I didn't know anything about Autism. But after doing so much research and doctors and therapists I deal with on the regular I believe I am as well. It would make so much more since!
@@_RavishingRaven_ family judgement, no support. Or it gets mixed with other mental, medical, learning difficulties, behavioural issues. See i have brain damage since I was 2.5 years old.
I think it's so adorable and wholesome that Allister loves flannel I have a light pink and white flannel in my closet that was the last one at a forever 21
They just think that the world can even have shortcuts and you can keep your precious all you want, but the problem is, those people who wants high expectations unnecessary are thinking that. "Oh, i can think that i am autistic, so i can do whatever i want in my life and make sure that everything it is own your own dream."
I have an obsession with those flippy fabric things (basically a reversible design you can put on things like sequins, keychains, pillows, shirts, etc). I realllllly like the texture of soft blankets (more specifically my South Park throw blanket). I absolutely despise food with runny textures to the point I refuse to touch anything that looks runny. I don’t like barbecue sauce but I love the taste of pickles for some reason.
I always walk around with a baby blanket or kids blanket and I sleep with it every night. If I don't have it my night will be messed up. These past few weeks I take my blanket to work because it helps me calm down before and after my shift. Since I started taking to work I haven't had a meltdown in over a month maybe two months.
We just have to find the right time with our kids. Mornings are really challenging and recording a video at the same time is proving to be difficult. We want to do the video though, so please be patient and it'll happen ;)
I still have one of my hand towels that I sleep with. I have to have it otherwise I struggle to sleep. I've had the towel since I was 3 and now I'm 19. I used to have 2 but I had to put one of them in the bin which was hard. Sometimes my towel will fall behind my bed and if I can't find it, I can get upset like your boy does. I used to take my towels everywhere I go, but now I'm older, it's just a sensory thing that I keep indoors so if I go to a friends house for a sleepover, I take something else with me. The only time I will take my towel with me is if I go see my auntie for a week. I had an obsession where all the place mats in the table had to match the coasters, I still kinda do now but it's not as bad as it was before. This is one of the main reasons why my mum thinks I'm on the Autism spectrum. I hate certain textures of food, clothing, fidget toys etc. I couldn't have food touching eachother and sometimes still feel that way however it's not a massive deal now. As I've grown up, I've learnt to deal with it but sometimes it's still pretty hard to adjust and I can sometimes have a mini meltdown or get moody.
Is flanel the same as flannelette if so flanel is soft and i kind of like it to sleep . If i have sheets on my bed(i always do who doesn't) they need to be flannelette because i dont lime the texture of other types of sheets although im fine with the texture of a sleeping bag so thats what my quilt is if it is the other kind that i dont like my legs dont stop moving i feel uncomfortable i cant lay still and i cant sleep but if its flannelette im comfortable because its soft and cosy
I had a blue crocheted Project Linus blanket I was super attached to as a kid. Now I have a weighted blanket with a similar texture to it and my blanket has two sides (different texture on either side.) I legitimately don’t sleep if my blanket isn’t covering me on the “right side” because the side I like touching my skin is the smooth side, rather than the felt/velvet/small fuzzy side. I hate velvet or velvet-like fabric, it makes me physically ill and uncomfortable. (I have a story related to a velvet dress my mom was trying to make me wear for a family gathering when I was probably 5-7 years old if you’re interested) ❤️🔥 Very interesting video, thanks Autism Family!
I totally get the flannel thing. I love my flannel shirts for that exact reason. ❤️ But I absolutely can’t stand flannel sheets! If that makes any sense?
I have autism and seek out silicon Spikey things. I have a silicone Spikey mat. I also have Spikey stixx that I carry around with me everywhere and freak out if I don’t have them. I get Alisters obsession with flannel. You have a great channel.
The heavenly like patience these parents have is amazing! Sorry but these children sound like crazy exhausting and if they would have any other parents I wouldn't blame the parent walking out on that child or children or giving them over to social services for others to foster or adopt.
Question: Has Alistair ever gotten upset and said “where is my flannel,”and its right their in his hand? I can’t tell you how many times this happens to me or I eat something and forget. Has this happened to anyone else?
He was actually crying over a different pillowcase he left behind. But yes, that kind of thing happens where they think they lost something but it’s right under their noses 😉
I am 21 and still have my blankie! I rub it between my fingers and it makes me feel safe and content. If I don't have it I pick at my fingers or feel generally antsy in my hands/fingertips.
I sleep with several duvets on my bed as well as a blanket my dad gave me as a Christmas present and a few soft toys, including a stuffed dragon, but I don't carry them around. It's more of an "autism comfort" thing when I go to bed each night whether I sleep or not. The daytime comfort thing I have is my beloved backpack which I carry around to my groups. My latest backpack is a Super Mario Bros one👌
I dont know any specifik texture I love in that way. But I have a lot of issuses with materials in clothes and so on that feels hard against the skin. Some are obvius to others at a bit hard. Like jeans and old towels. But in is also fleece and silk. Its gets som kind of weird…. friction? As a kid I could get scars from scrathing then I had a fleece sweather, as example
My son has adhd and Asperger i have adhd no autism but i love weighted blankets currently have 2 12 kg stacked and i love the heavy feeling when i sleep or when i really hyper ts so relaxing Used to have very bad insomnia now i can sleep for hours straight no more waking up every 30 min that was draining me Also like your son like very soft fabric
I am kind of like Alistair except for me I need something with silk and I have this thing that I call a woobie it looks like a rag now but I like to rub my fingers on the silk I have had it since I was a baby and I am 18 now but I need silk when I want to rub my fingers on something and it helps me to calm down
I have a teddy bear that I can’t or won’t get rid of. I’ve had it since I was around 13 and I’m 47. I still sleep with it because it is soft and I can squeeze it. I’m autistic as well.
I mean don’t have a certain one where I’m obsessed with it but I really like soft things that will warm me up but I don’t like athletic clothes like leggings like that texture Bc I don’t like it and it makes me cold
When I was a kid, I would always love to flick books or tap my fingernails on it and it has a very satisfying sound and I also love the smell books because the pages smelled good
Hi my little one is 3y showing signs of A with Speech and language delay he puts everything in mouth, he enjoys eating paper how can I stop him from that
Try finding something else similar that's safe for him to eat, ik there's plenty of edible paper things out there but the first thing that comes to mind is something like rice paper. You should also work on trying to re-directing him to something else when you see him trying to do that.
@@myworldofgfrecipes2158 I'm not too sure, but if think your son may be autistic you should go to a child psychologist to get him evaluated. Autism diagnosing is easier the younger the child is (and lucky for you it's easier for doctors to recognize it in boys)
Hi uhm I have this one blanket I have had for a year or two I had it before but left it behind with my other parent and I have always had a blanket since I was little (I’m 11) and it’s currently 12am at night morning i guess and I just can’t sleep without it and yes it is late but I have trouble sleeping either waking up really early or staying up but before I get to carried away I’m going to stop there I’m not sure if that explains a lot
Since I can not edit this I have to reply but I am not autistic as far as I know and I do plan on telling my mom stuff that I am experiencing and I have been putting it back but I will eventually tell her
My son is have ASD also can't walk and cannot speak but he can hear wat I do wat doctor he needs I'm from Philippines and I can't afford to my son becoz of our poverty
I have adhd But I dont have to feel things !!! probaly because Im not on the autistic spectrum however my mate max is on the autiscitc spectrum and he loves feeling things ❤
I dont like the texture of Kleenex, napkins, paper towels and toilet paper. I also dont like the texture of paper when it is crinkled as it starts to feel like Kleenex. I also dont care for touching wet things unless i am totally wet like when showering or swimming.
Great subject Our son does not want to say good buy to His Flanell pyjama which has meanwhile huge holes & is two sizes too small If next time someone Reports us again to authorities I have Something to explain why our so'n has new - Not Flanell - proper size Pyjama but @home eben during dayto.e in weekends wär's His Flanell pyjama 3 Times we were reported but now With the official Diagnose I am not the bad Mom anymore 🎈 From Germany
So did the child buy the flannel? Or it was given by the parents... One goves their child vodka. Why do you give it to the child? Because he would have meltdown otherwise! Wow. As soon as you permanently take away all and every and any cloths , flannels and firbid taking any fabric, the peculiar habit will start dying. In three weeks it will die off. But then there will be no content for the well paying channel and no attention to the lecturer... YOU support the flannel obsession
@@AutismFamilyChannel Have a think. You are in charge. The child is obsessing with what YOU gave him. The child eats what YOU choose. The child goes where YOU decided. I imagine a father of three alcohol-addicted guys proudly lecturing about their addiction to vodka. Wow, triple failure, nothing to be proud of, nothing to lecture about, you should rather learn and ask the question ^ what is so wrong with my parenting that one after another turn into autistics.
@@AutismFamilyChannel Not necessarily caused, you have been aggravating any peculiar starting behaviours and growing them into full blown abnormal, to attract attention to yourself (not deliberately, of course). Autism is just a name for formed behaviours, isn't it? A label. Train a child to act weird and the child WILL get a diagnosis, and the parent will get state help.
@@AutismFamilyChannel Any flannels need to be taken away permanently, the kids not allowed to take any fabric, and meltdown must be directed to happen in an utility room behind a close door. At some point you really needed supernanny. "Not allowed" is not on in your household, kids are allowed whatever weird things they do. Of course, encouraged, maladaptive behaviour flourishes. Anti-ABA. Another thing that comes across very vividly is that in your lectures there is no humbleness. As if you have three kids all winning scholarships to Harward. But really you have three failures of parenting , for whatever reasons, three unhappy and lost souls - it is not really a good ground to lecture people... a cooking lesson how to burn three pies one by one, or a biking lesson of how to fall and break every bike three tims. I do believe you are genuine and act out of love, this does not mean all your actions are correct, I hope you will look beyond being angry at my words.
I have a baby blanket that if I’m in bed it needs to be up against my face. Preferably near my nose so I can smell it. I’ve always loved the way it feels on my face and how it smells. I can’t be in bed without it.
