There are many opinions on how to educate a child. It can be difficult for a parent to determine the best way to correct their child's unwanted behaviors. This becomes even more difficult when the child has an autism spectrum disorder. It is important that, as a parent of an autistic child, you realize that education goes beyond punishment for "bad" behavior. Education is, in reality, the attempt of parents to apply strategies to modify the unwanted behaviors of their child. Go to the first step to find out more information on how to educate a child with autism.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Create a Routine to Reduce Disciplinary Needs
It is important that these steps are maintained on a regular basis because it is very difficult to apply targeted strategies to educate an autistic child if there are inconsistencies in the type of education or inadequate supervision of the child.
Step 1. Choose environments, a fixed routine and a structure
Create or choose environments in which activities take place. A general routine is essential in your child's life to make him understand the world around him, autistic children tend to get confused. When you create a routine, you will be able to limit the causes of your child's bad behavior.
Step 2. Use time tables with pictures
This type of timetable helps to explain to the child what activity to undertake next. They are a wonderful tool that parents can use to help guide some children with autism through the different activities of the day. They help improve the structures of the child's life, especially when it is difficult to maintain an overview of daily activities. Some ideas on how to use image tables include:
- You and your child can keep track of activities by “ticking” those already done.
- You and your child can draw a clock next to the activities to determine the time of each of them.
- Help your child draw and color these figures, so that they feel more connected with the pictures.
- Keep the tables in a book or on the wall so that your child can read them whenever he wants.
Step 3. Be consistent in following schedules
Remember that even if you need to be rigid and consistent, you should still be flexible when it makes sense to be. Being inflexible can fuel those unwanted behaviors of the child even more. All those who care for the child and are involved in his upbringing must be consistent with regard to his scheduled daily activities and disciplinary regime.
Step 4. Adjust the schedules slightly as the child grows
Although the tables must remain relatively constant, it does not mean that there is no room for the development of your child's activities and education as he himself naturally progresses in his development and grows as an individual.
For example, you may have planned physical exercise after lunch. However, if your child develops tummy congestion every time, he may start misbehaving before each exercise session. It does not mean that you must continue to follow the scheduled activity for fear that a change will make your child "confuse". Situations can be changed so that physical exercise takes place before lunch. The replacement of these activities must be communicated to all those who take care of the child to ensure a constant approach
Step 5. Make sure the child is sufficiently supervised
This includes trying to figure out when and where the child needs a break (for example after school). Pauses are especially important when the child feels he can no longer handle the situation and feels overwhelmed. When the child becomes nervous or stressed from excessive stimulation, this is indicative of the need for a moment of rest. To manage it, move your child to a known, safe and quiet place, and allow him to "relax" in a simple environment under your supervision.
Step 6. Be patient
While it can happen that you get frustrated when trying to understand your child's behavior, it is important to remember that patience is the key. Your child with autism needs to take the time to understand that these unwanted behaviors must stop.
Remember that some autistic children have problems with sensory auditory, visual, or tactile disturbances. So when he's not paying attention or doesn't seem to listen to what you say, don't quickly come to the conclusion that what he is doing is only doing it to annoy you
Step 7. Don't scold your child
Shouting, being bossy, or bossy can make them anxious and confused, and they may react by behaving inappropriately. When children with autism experience anxiety, they show it through their behavior. They become restless and fidget. He may start throwing tantrums, yelling, or screaming. Therefore, it is important to keep a calm tone of voice, even if you are very frustrated.
He may also exhibit self-injurious behaviors such as banging his head on the wall
Step 8. Resolve all medical and sleep problems
If your child is not getting enough sleep or is in pain or poor health, it will be normal for them to express their stress, which could be mistaken for "problem behavior".
Method 2 of 4: Specific Educational Strategies
Step 1. Create a direct relationship between education and problematic behavior
It is very important to correct problematic behavior immediately after it occurs. Sometimes, as a parent, you have to choose which battles to face. If you wait too long to administer a punishment, your child may get confused as to why he is being punished. If it's been too long for your child to be unable to make a connection between a specific behavior and a punishment, it's best to let it go.
If your child learns well through visual tactics, create a series of pictures that explain how inappropriate behavior leads to punishment, while appropriate behavior deserves reward. By doing this you will help your child understand the relationship between bad behavior and punishment
Step 2. Administer punishments in varying degrees
Don't rely on one punishment or one type of punishment. There must be a graduated scale in the administration of punishment based on the severity of the behavior.
The disciplinary methods you intend to adopt should depend on the severity of the problem. Autism is not a single disorder, it is a spectrum of disorders. So there is no single solution or remedy to all behavioral problems, They must necessarily be differentiated according to the child and the severity of the behavior
Step 3. Know that consistency in discipline is essential
The child needs to make an association that allows him to understand that an unwanted behavior corresponds to a punishment, and that this measure will be adopted regardless of who manages the punishment.
Step 4. Choose the form of punishment that you believe will be most effective for your child
When you've worked hard to figure out which ones work best, pick a few and stick with it. For instance:
- Ignore provocative behaviors, those that have the sole purpose of seeking attention and whims. This includes no type of eye contact, physical or verbal response. In this way the child receives the message that the behavior adopted by him is unacceptable and must be ignored. This type of punishment works effectively on children who scream, swear, or sulk.
- Counting technique: When your child throws a tantrum, "Don't cry" (or other phrases with the same meaning). Then immediately start counting aloud, but stop as soon as the child starts throwing tantrums again. Repeat, "Don't cry." And start counting again every time the baby stops. When you get to a predetermined number (10 or 20), ask the child: "What would you like to do?".
- Use the loss of rewards as a form of discipline. If the child behaves inappropriately, the loss of a reward will be viewed by the child as a form of punishment.
Step 5. Remember that you need to feel comfortable giving this type of punishment in public
For this reason, slapping and spanking are not recommended as a form of discipline. You may be comfortable spanking your child at home, but if you don't feel like spanking in public, you teach your son that behavior is acceptable (outside the home). Additionally, children with autism can get frustrated or angry easily. This type of feeling is often expressed through acts of violence. Responding to violence with violence can simply feed in your child the idea that it is okay to resort to violence when you are nervous.
Step 6. Avoid telling the child that he is "bad" or "wrong"
Emphasize unwanted behavior in an encouraging way to promote corrective action. For example, say:
- "I understand that what happened made you nervous, but these screams of yours are …"
- "I think you are doing this because …"
- "Let's look for a way to express your concern in a better way …"
Step 7. Remember that a good part of "discipline" is based on encouraging correct behavior and not on punishing incorrect behavior
Work with your child to identify unacceptable behaviors and present other alternatives (as above) The more you reinforce appropriate behavior, the more often it will be applied by your child. If you do not see any improvement, you may benefit from a medical consultation so that you can raise your concerns.
Method 3 of 4: Create a Reward System
Step 1. Create a reward system that is directly linked to appropriate behaviors
Just like in punishment, your child needs to understand that the direct result of proper behavior is a reward. Over time this creates behavioral changes that can help you educate your child.
Step 2. Rank the activities your child likes the most, and the ones they like least
Assign a value to the activities and rewards your child likes, starting with the ones he likes least to the ones he likes the most. Create a list to note this classification. You can use these activities to reward your child for adopting appropriate behaviors when they stop behaving inappropriately.
While it may seem like a form of "corruption", it really isn't, if applied correctly. The application of the rewards system must be based on rewarding the child for correct behavior, not using the system hoping that the child stops the unwanted action
Step 3. Stay open to new ideas on how to punish and reward your child
Every child is different and each of them experiences autism spectrum disorder differently. What might be considered a punishment or something "boring" for a child may be the most welcome reward for an autistic child, and vice versa. Therefore it is essential to be creative and open to new ideas on both the concepts of punishment and reward in the educational area.
Step 4. Set up a reward system
There are many ways to do this, but the two main systems are:
- Create a list of behaviors where each correct behavior is marked on the list. If the child performs well a certain number of times, he receives a reward.
- Coin-operated reward systems are very common. Essentially, every correct behavior is rewarded with a token (a sticker, a chip, etc.). These tokens can later be exchanged for a reward. This system is often applied through a covenant with the child and can be difficult to apply to younger children.
Step 5. Compliment your child
Always give a compliment along with a reward (first compliment and then give the reward). This encourages the child to repeat the appropriate action. When complimenting, use a lower tone of voice. If you talk too loud you can overstimulate or agitate him. Compliment the efforts, not the results. This means complimenting the work that has been done to achieve a goal. Recognizing your child's consistency and effort for an autistic child is more important than the outcome.
Being sincere and cheerful about appropriate behaviors encourages your child to repeat them
Step 6. Give sensory rewards
Sometimes they are more difficult to manage, but the sensory rewards are excellent and also promote sensory activity. Be careful not to over-stimulate your child, he may get nervous. Rewards could include:
- Sight: Something they enjoy wading, such as a book, a fountain, animals (fish in particular), traffic (if you live in an apartment), or watching a model airplane fly.
- Hearing: light and relaxing music of simple musical instruments, such as the piano or a song.
- Taste: This reward goes beyond food. It includes tasting different foods, such as an assortment of sweet fruit, something salty, and any food your child likes.
- The sense of smell: make your child distinguish different smells: eucalyptus, lavender, orange, or different flowers.
- Touch: Sand, ball pool, water, packaging bubbles, jelly or plasticine.
Method 4 of 4: Understanding the Cause of the Unwanted Behavior
Step 1. Always keep in mind that an autistic child thinks "concretely"
This means that you take everything literally and therefore you have to be careful when talking to him. Before you give your child a punishment, you need to understand why he is misbehaving. If you don't understand the cause of the gesture, you could punish him in ways that would simply reinforce the negative behavior.
For example, if your child doesn't want to go to sleep and you don't know why, you can choose to put her on time out. However, this type of technique could be seen as a reward for the child, as his goal is to stay out of bed for as long as possible. By resorting to discipline without understanding the causes of the behavior, you are showing your child that if he misbehaves when he has to go to bed, he can stay awake for longer
Step 2. Understand the purpose behind the child's inappropriate behavior
When a child with autism exhibits inappropriate behavior, it is actually serving a purpose. By understanding your child's purpose, you will be able to understand how to prevent unwanted behavior and work to replace it with a more appropriate one.
For example, to avoid a situation, your child may start throwing a tantrum. Or he is trying to attract attention or to get something else. Sometimes it can be difficult to understand what your child's ultimate purpose is, you will need to observe it well to fully understand it
Step 3. Try to understand what it is that triggers inappropriate behavior in a particular way
A key to understanding why your child behaves the way, whether he wants to avoid a situation or is seeking attention, is to notice if he misbehaves repeatedly in certain scenarios. If the child is misbehaving in a situation that usually amuses him, then he may just be seeking more attention.
