Space invading 5 year old

My 5 year old daughter has ZERO sense of personal space. She has always been like this, but now that she's spending more time in preschool to prepare for kinder this fall, it's becoming a bigger issue. Kids don't want to be around her, she's hurting kids in space invading accidents, knocking things over, ruining other kids art projects. At home her brother (4) is playing with her less and less. We're constantly having to remind her to get out of her sister's (3 months) face. I usually let her watch/help with chores, but I've had to stop because keeping her safe is getting impossible- for example, I was cutting an apple and she tried to place her hands over mine.The only area where her space awareness has improved is with our pets. She's learned that "safe places" such as crates and the cat towers are purely off limits to her.She constantly wants to hug, or hold hands, or help out with her hands. When playing she says she has to touch other kids or whatever they are playing with because she "loves them" and wants to "teach them how to do things". She's always trying to get closer and closer. Lots of mashed fingers and toes happen because she tries to get so close to other kids while playing. An injury that sticks out is the time she was trying to hold hands with another child while swinging, the kid protested, my daughter wouldn't stop trying and the kid fell off of the swing. If there's running involved- a kid is going to trip because she's going to get way too close to them. While watching movies or tv, she can start out on the opposite end of the couch from her brother, but just 15-20 min in, she's right on top of him. If a child is drawing or doing other art, she will get right up behind them, think creepy boss breathing down your neck. She gives them compliments them, but will just stand, pressed against them. Just on and on.I can tell that she is genuinely sorry when she hurts other children. She becomes distraught when she ruins the fun, or when other kids do not want to be around her. My husband and I, as well as a preschool teacher, have seen her try to keep a space bubble. She will become very stressed, you can see the struggle on her face. She sort of mumbles to herself, like she's giving herself a pep talk. She can hold out for a few minutes, but then she's right back to space invading. So sometimes I honestly believe she's trying. But others, it seems like she's maliciously invading others' space. Either way, her injuring other kids by invading their space is getting her into trouble.We've tried lots of things to teach her about personal space. We've read books. We've done space bubble role playing- we'll pretend play a scenario and talk about what she could do or do differently. My son's therapist (for speech) was nice enough to give me a few coloring sheets about space bubbles. We've talked and talked and talked. We've tried body language and facial expression flash cards. Her preschool teachers have tried everything they know. For the times that she's invading space to aggravate other children on purpose, we punish her. We make her take 5 minute breather breaks to calm herself down. We've given positive attention for respecting space (like, "I see you stayed in your seat during the movie, great job!")Kids don't want to play with her. The preschool is tired of all the accidents she's causing, and quite frankly, I don't blame them.We just don't know what to do. She just cannot stay our of other peoples' space. Her pediatrician seemed to think it was age appropriate. I love our pediatrician, she see all 3 of our kids, and she's been wonderful with my son and his speech delay. But maybe she's missing something with our daughter? This is far from normal. via /r/Parenting http://ift.tt/28SLVx6