Spinning as a Stim: How My Autistic Child Uses Movement to Regulate

Spinning is a common stim for autistic people. Here’s how my autistic child’s love for spinning developed… and why stimming should be supported, not stopped.

The Joy of Spinning: A Glimpse into My Autistic Child’s World

As the song's tempo picked up, Konrad spun faster, his arms rising and falling in sync with the beat. His eyes locked on the corner of the ceiling as he twirled. When his toddler brother waddled into his orbit, Konrad effortlessly adjusted, avoiding a collision without breaking rhythm.

“Should he be doing that?” a neighbor asked, lingering in the doorway.

“He’s fine,” I said with a smile. “He spins every day. Doesn’t fall. It’s how he regulates.”

She chuckled, unsure. “It’s making me dizzy just watching him.”

Still, she couldn’t look away.

What Is a Stim? Understanding Autistic Self-Regulation

Stimming – short for self-stimulating behavior – is something most people do. You might twirl your hair, tap a pencil, or bounce your leg. These repetitive actions help us focus, release tension, or self-soothe.

For autistic people like my son Konrad, stimming is essential. It helps with emotional regulation, sensory processing, and expression. Konrad stims by spinning, flapping, vocalizing, and rocking. Each serves a purpose.

Unfortunately, stimming is often misunderstood. Too many autistic kids are told to “stop” or “sit still” when they stim. But by stimming, they’re doing what their bodies need to feel safe or calm.

In our neurodivergent family, we embrace stimming as natural, healthy, and sometimes incredibly beautiful.

One of Konrad’s most powerful stims is spinning.

One-Minute Video Showing the Development of Konrad's Spinning Skills

The Development of Spinning Skills

Konrad’s spinning skills took time to develop. His love of movement – and music – emerged early.

At 17 months, he started jumping along to Josh Groban concerts. Clinging to the baby gate in front of the TV, he’d bounce for 20 minutes straight, giggling with delight. When violinist Lucia Micarelli took the stage, his eyes would widen, and he’d let out joyful shrieks. (For more on how Josh Groban's music supported Konrad, check out our Autism and Special Interest blog post).

By 21 months, spinning became his preferred stim.

At first, he wobbled, tried one direction, then the other. He fell often... with a laugh. He’d pop back up and start again. Eventually, clockwise spinning became second nature.

As he grew, so did his skills:

• At age two, he added hand movement, mirroring the music’s rhythm. His arms would rise and fall with the downbeat, slowing or speeding to match the tempo.

  
  

• By age three, he incorporated small jumps and intricate gestures. After hearing a song once, he could spin in perfect sync the second time.

His spinning wasn’t just movement. It was art.

Why Spinning and Other Stims Matter for Autistic Kids

Konrad’s spinning wasn’t random or meaningless. It was a powerful form of self-regulation.

After a noisy grocery store trip or overstimulating day at school, Konrad would come home and spin to music, resetting his nervous system. At bedtime, he spun while I read stories aloud, helping him relax enough to sleep.

He’s told me he spins because it makes him feel calm, and because it’s fun.

Stimming is not a behavior to eliminate. It’s a need to support.

Moreover, Konrad’s spinning became a source of connection. He loves trying to teach others how to do it, but most can’t replicate his unique footwork. Watching them try – and laughing together – builds confidence and social joy.

What Spinning Has Taught Me as a Parent

People still ask, “Should he be doing that?”

And my answer remains: Absolutely!

Supporting Konrad’s stims has taught me how vital it is to trust a child’s cues. If a stim is loud or disruptive in certain settings (like clapping during schoolwork), we adapt. For example, Konrad now uses a soft cloth “stick” he can tap against his palm.

But we never tell him to stop altogether. His body knows what it needs.

Encouraging his spinning means encouraging self-awareness, self-regulation, and ultimately, self-advocacy. When he recognizes what calms him or energizes him, he builds a foundation for navigating a world that isn’t always built for neurodivergent minds.

Final Thoughts: Stimming Is Strength

Spinning is more than just a stim for Konrad. It’s movement, music, emotion, and creativity, all rolled into one.

By supporting our autistic children’s stims, we’re helping them regulate, and we’re affirming their right to exist comfortably in their own bodies.

As Konrad keeps spinning, maybe the world will begin to turn, too – toward recognizing and supporting the needs of autistic people.

Jen with Cool Wiring

 For information about affirming language, strengths-based approaches, and celebrating differences, check out our post on the Neurodiversity Paradigm.