Help! I Need Socks for My 11 Year Old

Socks with seams could induce tears in my son. It has gotten much better as he got older. He did better with Adidas brand socks but they come in all levels of quality. Target sells a version of gold toe socks in both athletic and dress styles that the boys have been wearing without complaint.

The older one needs men's socks and seems okay with gold toe socks.

He certainly sounds as if he has the hypersensitivities of aspergers/autism or a generalized sensory intergrative dsiorder. And how well we recall years and years of similar clothing issues----BUT----two things come to mind: first, at 11 years he is likely (unless severely autistic) to be able to express this issue to someone at his new school. If so, it is a huge lesson for him to be empowered to try to make his own case: that he knows about the uniform rule and wants to follow it, so he will TRY to wear socks, but that he might need help from THEM. This takes you and the home out of this and gives him his own reinforcement situation with his new structure in the new school. And his new admin and instructors know he has the right attitude and can fend for him in the classroom if he is allowed to slowly decide to wear the socks yet is 'called out' by other students when he does not. Second, I would take HIM to a store with many many types of socks. Explain to a salesperson that he will need to try many on in a slow and deliberate fashion (so no one gets upset with him/you). Preface the shopping event with the statement that there is a specific goal: that he MUST exit the store with ONE pair that he likes best. Then sit back and let him bring that pair to you. If he gets very excited about one type it will be like hitting the lotto and you can buy 10 pairs and be done...until the next item presents a problem of course...but one step at a time is always exciting. People who have never had to deal with this sort of thing are not helpful, so always alert other parents or salepeople of the obsessive selection process which is likely to ensue. And congrats on that new school. usually a huge boon to progress!

Is it the seam in the toes that is bothering him? I have the same issue with socks. My solution was to wear the socks "inside out". Most socks have a different feel inside then outside and put the thick seam inside. For tactile individuals this is very distraction. i would try letting him wear them inside out. Also, many boy socks are sports socks style. Try thr trouser sock style. They are sometimes less irritating. Good luck. I am a 33 year old mom and I still dislike socks.

I'm not sure if this applies to your son, but have you tried turning the socks inside out? I'm not a big sock fan, mostly because I prefer to go shoeless! but also some socks have a rather large seams and they make it feel like you have something in your shoe pressing against your toes.

Other than that, I don't know what to tell you, except....

You know the baseball socks that are just a stirrup on the bottom but look like a regular sock on top? Maybe something along those lines would work?

Good luck
Jules

Look for seamless socks. You can find them online. I'm not sure what size shoe your son wears but they may have them at stride-rite. Also look at a sports supply place they sometimes have seamless socks for running, etc. You can also try the outlet stores if you find some that work. Good luck.

I think your feeding the prob. let him deal with it. Buy him socks that meet the requirements. If you need to let him pick them. But after that leave it up to him. Buying new ones over and over is only feeding his problem and he's learning that if they bother him just complain and more will come. So he does complain in stead of trying to figure out a solution himself OR his solution is spending your money on more of something he has.

Hi C.,
This is just a suggestion. My daughter hated to wear socks too. You stated he spends a lot of time adjusting and readjusting. My daughter did the same thing because she didn't like the height of the socks. Even though they were ankle socks, she would pull the socks down into her shoes. And then she would have to readjust them for comfort.

I started purchasing the socks that come right below the ankles. You could barely see them when she wore her sneakers.I don't know what they are called. You can find them at Wal-Mart and they are not expensive at all. Hope this helps!

Have you spoken with at OT about sensory integration work. Also the book "Your out of Sync Child" might be helpful.
Sorry can't help with the socks.
L. M

Wow sounds like some ot for SPD would really help here. He isn't doing it to be difficult though try looking at the Sensory processing disorder sites for links to some stores for seamless socks etc. I know I prefer either all cotton socks or smart wool brand socks for many of the same reasons. I also recommend reading the out of sync child it will help you understand how he feels with the tactile issues better and give you a whole new set of tools to help you both.

C.,

Has your son always done this? I mean are there other textures that bother him? I agree with both previous posts, but if this is a case where he's always been specific about the textures that touch his body, I'd ask an OT about it. My daughter just turned 5 and is autistic. We have a similar issue with many things. Thankfully she is not overly picky on most textures now unless it's food. On the other hand, if it's not a texture thing and he's just looking for attention, then I totally agree with just buying him some socks and letting him deal with it. I'd suggest talking to his pediatrician first and asking to see an OT about it, and if that proves nothing, then go with letting your deal with his problem. Hope this helps, God Bless.