Managing Aggression in Autistic Children

Autism can result in a wide range of behavioral problems, such as exhibiting aggressive behavior that manifests as outbursts of biting, clawing, kicking, striking, or hurling objects at others.

People who care for autistic children face additional stress as a result of aggressive behavior, and dealing with aggressive behavior can be exceedingly difficult for parents, caregivers, and teachers. To avoid aggressive behavior in children with autism spectrum disorder, we should utilize proactive techniques to prevent the behavior from arising.

American Caregivers, Inc suggests some tips when your child engages in aggression:

• Ignore the outrage.
  This does not imply ignoring the child; rather, it means ignoring the undesirable conduct. Do not react if your child starts hitting you. Any form of attention shown to this behavior can be encouraging, and as a result, the behavior may become more prevalent in the future.
• Change the child’s focus to a different activity.
  This works if the youngster is distressed because a toy has been taken away or they have been told “no.” It’s advisable to try to divert the child’s attention away from what’s going on by redirecting them to something else.
• Reward the youngster for behaviors other than hostility.
  This teaches the youngster that they will be rewarded if they engage in appropriate behavior.

If your child exhibits aggressive behavior, you may want to seek assessment and assistance from a home care agency in Silver Spring, Maryland. Meanwhile, the best thing a parent can do is be consistent and use these strategies every time their child acts aggressively.

When in need of an autism service provider in Maryland and adult home care services, don’t hesitate to ask assistance from our caregivers. Contact us now at 301-408-0100!