Preventing unwanted touching is often about setting the stage for success. Before entering a situation that you know is challenging, do a quick pre-teach.

💬 For example, before a playdate: “Remember, everyone has their personal space. Let’s keep our hands to ourselves unless Sam says it’s okay to high-five or play tag.”

💬 You can even practice a greeting right before the playdate (“Show me how you’ll say hi without hugging unless he wants a hug.”).

💬 If your child tends to wander and touch things in public, use preventative tools like holding hands, using a safety harness (for younger kids who bolt or grab dangerously), or engaging them in a job (“Can you be my shopping list holder?” – occupying their hands).

Environment prep at home might mean making some physical adaptations. If a child grabs fragile items, keep those out of reach to remove temptation while you build skills. If they can’t resist touching the stove, install knob covers – you are not “giving in,” you’re ensuring safety as you work on teaching.

In environments like school, maybe a seating arrangement can help (e.g., placing them at the end of a group rug so they have one fewer neighbor to touch). Reducing sensory overload is also preventative: sometimes kids touch others more when they’re overwhelmed (a way to seek grounding). So, ensure they get sensory breaks (like a few minutes to jump or push against a wall) to reduce restless grabbing.

Another preventative approach is social narratives and rules established ahead of time. Create simple house rules and review them daily: “We ask before we touch,” “Hands stay in lap during story time,” etc.

Use visual reminders – a picture of hands with a stop sign on the wall can cue them. Pre-teach replacement behaviors too: “If you feel like grabbing, you can squeeze your hands together or squeeze your stress ball.”

Practice that when calm, so in the moment you can remind them of their “tool.” If your child often grabs for attention, plan to give frequent positive attention before they resort to that.

💡For example, catch them being good and give a quick hug or high-five on your terms, so they don’t have to grab for it.

Lastly, involve others in prevention: inform relatives or friends that your child is working on this. For instance, tell Uncle Joe ahead of time that your child might unexpectedly hug and how you’re handling it, so he’s not caught off guard. When everyone is on the same page, the environment becomes more supportive and less reactive.