Banging on walls / glass windows / French doors - HELP !

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My son has recently started banging his hand or a ladle (wood or stainless steel) against walls, GLASS windows and our French doors. He bangs so hard that I live in constant terror that he might either hurt himself by shattering glass and create a security hazard for us by having an open window / French door until we can get it fixed. He has a lot of stims that I don't mind, but this stim is freaking me out due to its associated safety risks.

Please advise. What need does this banging / tapping fulfill and is there anything else that can give him the same input / fulfill the same need while not being a hazard ?

TIA.

I bang on things. It's a sort of happy thing for me. One thing you might set out are board games in their boxes. Banging a hand on the top of closed up board game box is pretty satisfying. The heavier the box the better of course. Flimsy ones aren't strong enough and don't provide the same feedback. It's best if they are square, not rectangular. Like a Catan box or a Village game box. You could also try those fancy sturdy boxes they sell at Michael's and Beall's Outlets for something cheaper. Then you wouldn't risk losing game pieces if he takes to opening the game boxes.

He might like banging the glass because it warps and ripples when he does so and the reflections you can see on the glass. Does he look at it when he bangs on it? If you want to replace the glass (not literally replace the glass in the windows but provide a glass alternate) you can buy clear plastic vinyl (I think it is vinyl?) at fabric stores. Make a strong wooden frame or buy a strong large photo or painting frame or get a painting canvas and remove the canvas from it. Staple one edge of the plastic to one side and stretch it across the frame and staple it so it's tight. Or for a firmer, clear surface affix a sheet of plexiglass to a frame of some sort. The plexiglass ought to provide the same flexible reflections. I don't think these will help with the glass jiggling though. An inside door with shutter slats across it might suffice.

You might want to post this question to the parent discussion board too...

IMHO stimming is caused by trying to avoid pain or feelings which the person can't deal with. I find that when I do stimming, if I just force myself to stop I am dragged through a terrifying emotion which eventually leads me into greater bodily awareness. He's trying to hide his awareness of pain caused by whatever illnesses he's carrying around untreated.

So if he listens to you you could get him to sit down in a comfortable chair and tell him to try not stimming "no matter what". Whatever happens don't stim and allow feelings to work themselves out. It may be really tough for him. That's what I do anyway.

I'd say it is about the sound, but I can't obviosly know for sure. I remember banging things to explore the sound. Different surfaces create a different kind of sound - hollow, flat etc. Glass window makes actually quite an interesting sound. Especially if he uses a stick to bang, I'd say it's probably about the sound and not about the tactile sensation. Maybe you could redirect him to bang a drum or tambourine etc. to spare the glass windows. By the way he might actually have alot of musical ability.