Hugging and squuezing autistic children is not the same for others. For us, hugs can relieve stress and calm us but for them it increases their anxiety leading to a more frustrated and confused self. They cannot communicate their needs effectively.
To better address this problem, a hug machine was created by a woman who has autism. this is to help relieve the frustration autistic children by giving them control of their situation.
How does a HUG MACHINE work?
It has two padded sideborads connected near the bottom of the board to form a V-shape. a lever helps push the sideboards together to create pressure and also allows the user control the amount of pressure. The hug machine is also called the hug box or squeeze machine.
The hug machine provides the pressure the autistic children needs to affect their heightened sensory perception makingt them concentrate on the pressure which calms them. For them pressure releases anxiety.
If hug machines are out of your budget, you can get creative. wrap your child in a blanket or you can improvise a hug machine, just follow the same principles of the original hug machine. Or, you can contact your child’s schoold if they have plans of purchasing one.
The hug machine may not make all your child’s problem go away but it functions to help your child and others like him better survive in our environment.