The Streak

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My boy is nearing his 4th birthday and when he's at home, it's next to impossible to get/keep him dressed. He doesn't seem especially uncomfortable in his clothes, just more comfortable out of them. He doesn't strip when we're out in public or at other people's homes. Any tips for keeping him covered?

Why make it such an issue if it is at home and you don't have visitors? He seems to understand that it isn't something that is done out in public. Don't give him a negative view of his own body. Understand that we get sensory overload very easily and that the constant rubbing of clothing on the skin is irritating. Compare to someone slowly dragging their fingers through your hair in the wrong direction.

Possible solutions:
1) Make certain areas of the house "clothing optional" for him. Obviously the bathroom and his bedroom would be best choices (and the path between the two).
2) Articulate your reasons that you want his body covered even if there is no one else around. Be certain that you have good reasons.
3) Change your reasoning and make sure that you reject the pornographic view of the human body - accept the body for what it is. Look into family friendly, clothing optional resorts in your area and give him a break next time you have time off to take a trip.

From what I have seen, many naturist/nudists are on the spectrum - much higher than the general populace. The family friendly resorts are very safe - probably safer for children than the average clothed resorts because they actually tend to screen everybody and remove people who act inappropriately.

We had this issue for a long time. He also knew not to be naked away from home. I am sure there must have been at least some sensory issue with clothing, although he does not complain about clothes, when wearing them. It just seemed like he prefers to be free. He seemed more relaxed. We really did not make it a big deal, because frankly we had other priorities. This summer we got it taken care of by having sticker chart with a reward system. I hate surprise visitors (really any visitors) so it really wasn't a big deal to us, but it is one of those social conventions that we felt eventually had to be dealt with.

We're matter-of-fact about nudity. I'm more worried about hygeine--butt germs on the chairs, tables, and countertops (he's also a climber ). He doesn't get yelled at about the clothes, just gently reminded that we wear clothes in the living room. I have tried putting his shirts on wrong side out so that the seams don't rub, because I remember having that as an issue when I was little. Also, I make sure his pants aren't too tight in the waist or the seat.

I had the same issue with my daughter. We have a "must wear underwear rule" and thats it. Just for the butt germs which also freaks us out. If it weren't for butt germs, I wouldn't care. We let her sleep like that too if she wants. Just not worth the arguement or effort. It only presents a problem when a neighbor kid runs up to the sliding glass door wanting to play and they see her. They're usually also 5, so I just tell them she just had a bath and for now they buy it.

I'm going through this with my 4 1/2 year old right now. The rule is he has to have pants on when he comes down stairs. It's a constant battle and he's given me no indication that it's a sensory issue it seems more of a power control issue he just wants to be very oppositional about it. And besides the obvious problems with him standing in front of windows and coming to the front door (and trying to bolt out) naked as someone else said there's also germ issues because he insists on sitting on the kitchen counters and furniture this way.

..... Im still giggling at "Butt germs on the chairs" lol.

We havent had that particular problem yet but our AS 5yo daughter has only worn dresses for quite some time despite the cold, wet weather. However she has just turned a corner and now she will tollerate trousers again. We just left her to it, let her wear dresses, I always took her coat, tights, cardigans and vests with us when we were out incase but never needed them.

It may be that he grows out of it and you wont need to worry about it much longer. Does he have any special interests such as cartoon charecters, that maybe he could be persuaded to wear branded pants or pjs? Even a spiderman costume if it stops the spreading of butt germs lol

What about doing what nudists do and use a little towel to sit on. Maybe he will get bored of taking it everywhere and just wear pants!

Sounds like a sensory issue, so they may be responding to the feel of the fabric. You could try clothes/underwear made of different materials, eg silky sleepwear, that feel different.

my guy who just turned 7 will only wear gym type shorts around the house. He wears a t shirt and stuff if we go out but I'm telling you his shirt is off faster than lightning when we walk in that door. Comfy gym shorts and luck that he is a boy is all that I have to offer

Tarzan shorts maybe. I agree with the underwear or comfortable shorts approach. The important thing is to have clothes on when guests are over and when he is in public.

When I saw the subject line I immediately thought of that song.

"Boogadad boogadad"

My oldest went through a taking off his clothes phase. He's NT though. He especially did it when he had to poo. He was 4. He also wouldn't wipe himself. One morning when I was working over at this convenience store across from the Orthodox church off of Clairmont (yeah, that store, used to be J&A) and it was very, very busy in the morning as usual, and I had brought him in with me for my husband to stop by on his way to work to pick him up and take him to day care, he had to go poo. He went to the bathroom and I told him I'd be back there as soon as I could. About 15 minutes passed and I still had a long line. Folks coming in for coffee, cigarettes, etc. Here comes my boy, naked, out of the back, pulling a long streamer of toilet paper behind him. Yelling "Wipe me!"

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I'm giving it another shot. We will see.
My forum is still there and everyone is welcome to come join as well. There is a private women only subforum there if anyone is interested. Also, there is no CAPTCHA.

The link to the forum is http://www.rightplanet.proboards.com

It's been since 2000 since I've been there. I used to eat breakfast at Bogues almost every day when I worked at the store. The owner of the store would buy it lol. That was his bribe so I wouldn't call him too early in the morning with a problem in the store. He had just got divorced and was drinking a lot so he didn't feel good in the mornings.

At that time that I worked in the store, we lived in those apartments behind Piggly Wiggly, but then we moved over to that duplex on 6th, right next to the park. We bought the whole thing, lived in both the upstairs and downstairs eventually but then sold it to move here because we couldn't afford four going to SFX. Is Randy still running Munchies there on the corner or did he move? I know his brother bought two stations within three blocks of Munchies.

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I'm giving it another shot. We will see.
My forum is still there and everyone is welcome to come join as well. There is a private women only subforum there if anyone is interested. Also, there is no CAPTCHA.

The link to the forum is http://www.rightplanet.proboards.com

I never knew who owned Munchies. It's still there but I don't know if it's changed hands over the years. There's a real cool mural of undersea life painted on the side facing the park. Oh, and Mazers is gone now --but I guess you know, because of all the commercials.

Yeah there was a mural on the side of it from back when we lived there, although this one may be new.

Randy Shunnarah owns Munchies. His brother owns the two Chevron's right by it plus one on up 4th in Woodlawn I believe. I can't remember which brother it is, but it's the heavy one.

_________________
I'm giving it another shot. We will see.
My forum is still there and everyone is welcome to come join as well. There is a private women only subforum there if anyone is interested. Also, there is no CAPTCHA.

The link to the forum is http://www.rightplanet.proboards.com

You can always establish "naked time" in the house. I had a sociology professor talk about this in class. He had a son (also on the spectrum) who would do the same thing, so he and his wife set aside a certain hour of the night where the child could run around in his "birthday suit." He claimed it worked well.

Yes, I do feel awkward for answering this...