My 12 year old son who has some sensory processing issues used to do something like hand flapping when he was very excited, and he got excited easily. He did it mostly at home, but he stopped as he got older and he never did it on stage during a performance so he could control it when he needed to even when he was 4. He did do it backstage once and he said one of the older girls caught him doing it and showed him how she could do it and make a clicking sound and she said she did this for fun sometimes. She was a very smart, very social girl.
I am much older than my son and I think I was doing a little flapping and jumping last night when I saw a huge spider on the curtain inches from where I had just put my hand. I automatically do this when I am totally creeped out. I think I have sensory issues and creepy spiders cause some kind of sensory overload. I had to have my husband do something with the spider.
Our summer has been busy with the 5 day a week rehearsals for Seussical. My son is having so much fun now that he is being given more responsibility and he is doing his first lead role. As one of the older boys he has to remember to move props quickly on and off stage in addition to doing his lines and singing his solos and the hardest part of all--making sure all the little Whos get on stage when they are supposed to. He has done all rehearsals in a very hot and uncomfortable scoliosis brace and with headaches and foot pain.
