Toddler SPD (hard hugging, grabbing, knocking down, squeezing) need advice PLEASE

I love bringing my son to parties to improve his socialness but I'm having a hard time peeling him off other children. He doesn't wander off at parties he jumps in the middle of everything literally. He's 2 1/2 and will grab other kids hoola hoops while they are playing, hug kids hard, squeeze them, try to knock them down. Will disrupt a parchute play or limbo etc...I don't know what to do with his hyposensitivity to touch, he's agressive not in a bad way he just craves the touch and I feel bad for the other kids and If I'm not there in time he'll knock them down or bother them and then they just find him to be a pest. He is starting OT soon but I would like to know now what I can do to make him stop. I just pretty much grab him, take him away and say no grabbing etc. Sometimes I will hold him which he can't stand. I don't know what else to do and I hate the stares and glares I get from some of the other moms at parties .

If anyone has any experience with this and advice please let me know! TIA

Re: Toddler SPD (hard hugging, grabbing, knocking down, squeezing) need advice PLEASE

First thing I would do is lots of deep pressure activities prior to a party and also incorporated into every day. Get a therapy ball at target or walmart, stablize it against a couch and stand infront of it. Have him jump up and down on the ball while you hold his hands or hips for support and sing a made up jumping song. You can also have him lie down and roll the ball over him. Squish him with a pillow, wrap him in a blanket, have him roll across the floor to get a puzzle piece, then roll back to put it in the puzzle board. Deep pressure or proprioceptive input is very calming. Vestibular input is also very powerful. Vestibular refers to movement/changes in head position. Vestibular acicities would be the swing, slide, sit n spin.... There are a million different activities you can do at home to help your son and your OT should go over that with you. In addition to OT and sensory integration therapy, i would take a behavioral approach and reward desired behaviors and have consequences for undesired behaviors.

Re: Toddler SPD (hard hugging, grabbing, knocking down, squeezing) need advice PLEASE

The books "The Out-of-Sync Child" and "The Out-of-Sync Child Has Fun" by Carol Kranowitz are good resources and have helpful ideas (activities, sensory diet, etc.).

Perhaps before attending parties, you can address your child's sensory seeking needs and provide him the input/stimuli that he typically craves for. (e.g. do crawling games at home, playful tug-of-war, massages, jumping activities, etc.) That way, he can be more calm and 'organized' during the actual party.

Re: Toddler SPD (hard hugging, grabbing, knocking down, squeezing) need advice PLEASE