My daughter is 6 years old HFA/Aspie. She has lots of clothing aversions (collars, trousers, tights, jumpers, cardis etc etc). She doesn't seem to feel the cold at all, and would quite happily walk around naked most of the time.
I've more or less got her to stop stripping naked in front of visitors/house guests, but she still discards her knickers and tights as soon as she gets in the house.
She will then roll around the floor with her legs in the air or sprawl on the sofa half naked. Her cousins are starting to shout "Oh Gross !" at her, but she doesn't seem at all bothered.
I've explained to her that it's "rude" to "show your bottom" to people, but she still does it, and I'm continually whisking her away to replace her underwear. I've given a detailed explanation about appropriate and inappropriate times for taking off clothes, but it doesn't seem to register.
Any ideas folks?
Put her in an all-in-one swimming costume under her clothes until the habit is broken?
i know it's sensory sensitivity and she can't help it, but maybe discipline her when she takes her clothes off. Or go to the store and let her pick out the best kind of fabric, alot people here like sweat pants or stretch pants. Or if it's just the underwear bothering her she doesn't have to wear any. I babysit a girl who doesn't wear any underwear and she's just fine.
Or let her wear a little girl's bikini. Or tell her if she wants to be naked she has to stay in her room (close the blinds of course ;p) or in the bathroom.
She might be able to tolerate all cotton undies with soft bands. I wonder if Fruit of The Loom would do these? Fruit of the Loom T-Shirts are about the only ones I can tolerate without having to cut the tags out.
Otherwise, some loose soft shorts (probably a size or two large) or a loose and light dress might be suitable. Or see if a compromise can be reached? She can take off her tights but must leave on the undies or go into her own room.
I feel the heat myself so certainly sympathise with this little girl's wanting to have few clothes but for her own protection, she does need to cover up her private parts with something.
I had another thought, inspired by the above posts - I loathe the feeling of the leg cuffs of my knickers, even though they are soft cotton. When I was at home I used to wear the lovely legged ones from Marks and Spencer but I cannot find anything like them in Adelaide.
I wonder if it is possible that these (or boys' boxers) might be more comfortable.
Its waist bands i couldnt stand. The answer was one piece coveralls and drop seat jammies. Have you asked what it is she doesnt like about wearing her underwear?
Otherwise, some loose soft shorts
Maybe a skort?
Yeah, a skort would be good. She'd probably feel most comfortable in cotton clothes too - the only drawback I've found with cotton is its tendency to stretch out of shape in the wash.
Thanks for the ideas. She doesn't like swimwear (too tight) or anything that covers her legs, but she does like wearing soft stretchy shorts....so I will try that out when we're indoors.
As to why she doesn't like underwear, she just likes wearing as little as possible. She saw a TV program about nudist colony holidays and was very keen on that idea..........but I wasn't
