My six year old foster brother, and first cousin, Joey, has been banging his head against things. My mother wants me to ask about what might be causing it, and what to do to stop him from continuing the behaviour in the future. I have Tourette Syndrome, and I self-diagnosed myself with Asperger's. So we're thinking that it might be genetic. Though I've never banged my head, as far as I can recall.
Does he bang the front if it, or the back? at bed time?, when he is alone? when he is happy? sad? did you ever notice?
I don't know what could cause it - though I have heard that it can be a sign of autism. My nephew does this too, he bangs the front of his head when he's mad or frustrated.
My son did that a little bit but only around ages 4 - 6. But not much. He is a diagnosed aspies. All it took to stop was to take him for a walk away by saying come and look at this, from whatever he was doing to a nice quiet place, while walking and he stopped.
My youngest sister was a head-banger as a toddler, usually when she was tired. Eventually she stopped. I'm afraid I don't know what stopped her. Perhaps she learnt other strategies to comfort herself (I remember her sucking her fingers till late childhood, as I did).
My son is 6 and will bang his head against just about anything, including other children, I've noticed!
His head banging concerned the school and it was the fact that they flagged it up to me, that started the whole assessment process.
My son has always done it, since a very young baby, and does't hurt himself.
I used to do this partly for self-comfort and partly as an early form of self harming and also to express anger and also when I was upset at myself - especially if I was being bullied or someone had got angry at me - it was kind of a self-punishment thing in that respect.
I found when I was around 7 that in terms of self-comfort rocking vigorously worked a lot better for me (and was not painful!) although my parents often reprimanded me for doing this. Wrapping myself up really tightly in my duvet works too (and still does!). In fact I've often wondered if I should look into getting a squeeze box.
Regarding the self punishment aspect, although I stoped headbanging so much when I was in my teens I would just self harm in other ways because I felt that I deserved the bullying I received from family, teachers, and peers and thought I needed to be punished - so I punished myself.
The only thing that helped with this was, in adult hood, distancing myself from the bullies and getting a social worker and support worker to help me figure out that bullying is wrong and I didn't deserve it (counselling doesn't work for me).
So perhaps try other self-comfort mechanisms if you think that is what the head banging is for.
If you think it is a manifestation of frustration, try to find out what is triggering the frustration.
If you think it could be to do with bullying and / or low self-esteem and feelings of self-hatred, again try and find the trigger and tackle it.
I hope this helps.
There are so many different had banging scenarios- my son "bangs" (or hits the back of his head on the couch of car seat) and has for years - he is now 11. He has not ever hit his head on a wall - neither the front nor the back and his banging is obviously soothing for him - he hums along many times - so I have no need to stop him. He will aslo do it on ht ebus, he does not care who sees - I drive him anyway as the bus is too noisy and in his age group he is apt to feel bullied with all the bad language etc.,
He also rocks (rythmic jouncing) face down - top of the head first - in bed (boomy up) he started this at around 13 months old - to go to sleep. He had stopped doing it except when he was over-tired, but when he has had an exciting/long/tiring day he has been doing it again - intermittantly - Apparently, my husbands uncle/s (2) and 1st cousin did this as well - and only one of them was considered eccentric - but never was diagnosed with anything (he is not alive as of 20 years ago - he would be in his 70's).
So that is why I ask, when does Joey do this - is Joey both your nephew and your step brother or are two of your relatives head banging - if they are not hurting - do they need to stop?
Also, yes occasionally I do distract my son from the sittin gon the couch, and we go bike riding or to the park to swing - Swinging will help take the place of some head banging - that and excercise. (also, trampolines) the small ones... it helps with some chemical in the brain or something....