Tactile Defensiveness and Christmas

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We celebrated Christmas a day early because we're going to my grandmother's for Christmas day. This morning was a mixture of fun and frustration. Sometimes I think, my kids aren't autistic, they were wrong. Then, as if to remind me, something invariably becomes glaringly apparent.

I have tactile issues with paper and metal. I noticed that my son had tactile issues last Christmas, just before his first birthday, when I handed him a fake snowball and he recoiled rather dramatically. On his birthday, he did not even want to touch his cake to taste the frosting. He finally did, but he shook his hand right after and wanted it off his fingers. I also learned he does not like gift bows. This morning he threw one like it was a live grenade, with all his might, and ran in the other direction lol I also learned he has some substantial tactile defensiveness with wrapping paper. Some of this gifts weren't wrapped, but some were. When he reached into his stocking, he hit wrapped gifts and got this terrible look on his face and held his hand somewhat curled away from the wrapping. His big sister and I unwrapped the rest for him. Once the paper was removed, he was a very happy boy.

I know how he feels. Shiny paper is not a problem for me, but if gifts were wrapped in, say, construction paper - OMG!! ! The mere thought of it makes me crawly, makes my teeth feel painful and sensitive. Yes, for some reason my teeth hurt when I have tactile issues...and sometimes even thinking of my tactile sensory issues are enough to cause it.

Christmas with autism. From now on, Santa won't wrap little G's gifts.

Any similar stories?

Shiny glass ornaments knocking together...*shudder*...

I don't like the fake snowballs either. That styrofoam stuff is not good.

I also hate glitter... It feels like tiny pieces of rough glass cutting me. I hate the feeling of it on my fingers and I'm terrified of it getting in my body (eyes, mouth, etc.)


I sort of feel bad for your son. I couldn't imagine not liking frosting on cake... so yummy...

I'm almost to the point where I wear gloves all the time or just completely avoid touching anything if it's not cold enough to "appropriately" wear gloves. Paper doesn't bother me so much, but metal is particularly bad, and anything liquid-ish that my fingers can go into really bothers me, even if it's inside something flexible, like those little stress toys.

You could try finding a comfortable pair of gloves for him during the winter, that'll help quite a bit if he can stand the material inside. Still not sure what to do about warmer weather, sometimes the looks people give are worse than the sensations.

lots of my students have issues with glue, paint, and glitter.....glitter especially because it just seems to get everywhere & you can never seem to get all of it off.

My Mum wrapped all this presents in pill cases and tied the top with a pretty ribbon. She did it for environmental reasons, but it also a good idea for people with sensory issues.

Helen

Styrofoam has always been an issue for me--I don't like the feel of it or the sound it makes when I'm pulling a toy out of its packaging. I was opening a gift for my son last night, and the squeak of the styrofoam was so offensive to my ears!

ewwwwwwwwwwww! styrofoam! AAAAAAAAAAAKKKKKKKKK!
I'm NT and I can't STAND styrofoam...the way it sounds when you touch it, the noise it makes.....
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA