pulling long hair

[sharonmorgan]

we have a child in our class that loves to pull long hair.  he is not seeming to be mean about it, i think he just likes the feel.  He also will scoot very close to the children in front of him when we are sitting on the floor in story time.  When i try to redirect, move him back, or even remove him to another location in the group, he gets very upset.  how can i  work with this child to allow him to be part of the group but to understand boundries?  Communication skills are limited. (at least verbally)

[specialmom]

So, visually you can try something called personal bubble.  You can draw pictures and or use real pictures drawing the bubbles.  He has his bubble, you have your bubble, other people have their bubble.  You can't get closer than someone's bubble.  For touching, hands in pocket please or hands in lap.  You can try a game the whole class does of robot arms. Reach arms out in front and to the side. These are robot arms.  No one can get closer than robot arms. Then quiet robot arm or space bubble reminders (without an upset tone, just a reminder).  This worked for my son. We also did a lot of choice giving "do you want to sit in the circle in your space bubble, in a chair along the side (comfy chair like bean bag), or at your table?  They choose. Not just redirected but given power of acceptable choices.