Why Does My Autistic Child Seem Clumsy or Use Too Much Force?

Some autistic children have differences in proprioception—the sense that helps us understand where our body is and how much force we are using. A child may bump into furniture, hug too tightly, press too hard, trip often, or seek jumping, crashing, squeezing, and other heavy movement. This is not necessarily carelessness. Movement activities, clear language such as “gentle hands,” modeling the right amount of pressure, and appropriate sensory input can help build body awareness over time.