What are your suggestions for a second grader who is slapping, hitting, punching themselves in the face?
Teachers believe this student is engaging in these behaviors for attention. Teachers will redirect the student by telling the student to "quit hitting himself." The student then sits and does not participate, follow directions, etc. (At least the student quit hitting himself by this point.)
A student who is doing these behaviors is probably a sensory-seeking child. He/she needs to be provided with resistive materials to chew on (ex. pencil toppers) to satisfy proprioceptive input. I would also see if this child responds to a dynamic cushion, and a bungee cord wrapped around the chair legs, so that they can push down on the resistive material.
