My 5 year old Pushes/Bears down on her chair

[dontknowwhattodomom]

My 5 year old bears down or as I call it pushes on her chair.  She does this sooooo much that she has calisses on her hands.  She has done every since she could sit up.  Always in a shopping cart.  I have kept her out of the cart.  She bears down so hard that she leave almost like welts in between her legs.  I have taken her to the Dr. and have had a couple of them tell me that she will grow out of it.  Then the last time we went to the Dr. she said that I need to start disciplining her when she does it.  When she starts to do this her face turns red and when you tell her to stop she goes into a fit crying and screaming.  She has started kindergarten and I am afraid she is going to be made fun of.  A parents worst nightmare.  She has stopped doing this at home but she is now doing this in class.  The teacher mentioned that she will be doing her work then she will start.  The teacher says it has been real frequent lately.  I believe it's more habit than anything.  I have thought of taking away her chair but then again she will freak out.  I really don't want to draw more attention to her to embarass her but I want her to stop.  Can you tell me maybe why she is doing this and suggest how to get her to stop?

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

This does not sound like emotional disturbance, and I would arrange an evauation with an Occupational Therapist to consider the possibility of Sensory Integration Disorder. If the behavior is a disturbance in class, it is OK for the teacher to tell her to stop and to place her in time out if she does not. I think you are making too much of an issue of what the other children will think. Children that age are very egocentric and her behavior will not have much of an impact on them.

[puvmom]

Sounds to me like your daughter is seeking out sensory input with the pushing and she can't get enough of it or get it intense enough to settle herself. Try reading the book The Out of Sync Child by Carol Stock Kranowitz. I think maybe it will help you see other aspects if sensory integration you might not have considered. Disciplining and thinking she will grow out of it probably won't help. You can find the book at the library or search online. yahoo & babycenter.com also have groups you can join to findout more about sensory integration dysfunction a/k/a sensory integration disorder--good luck :0)