Autism Behavior Strategies

There are a few different ways in which to deal with different behaviors

with and individual with Autism. Each child will come up with something different. For example, the child might love to tap on things, this may be a sensory thing for them, but the tapping is causing items to break. This is a behavior that may be negatively affecting the lives of the parents. Children may also have aggressive behaviors in which they hurt themselves or others, they may have tantrum behaviors in which they scream, cry, flop, or break things, or they may have sensory behaviors that are inappropriate to be done in public.

How to Decrease Negative Behaviors

Tip #1: Replacing the behavior with a positive one

Every time the individual starts a negative behavior, have them do something else instead. For example, let’s say if a child gets upset, they start to hit their head really hard. This is NOT good for them, so instead replace the behavior with something more appropriate, for example you could have them clap their hands or jump. Eventually, the negative behavior will start to decrease, and the positive behavior will increase.

Tip #2: Token System

Create a token board. This can be very easily done with either a small dry erase board, or a laminated piece of paper and some Velcro. Have the child choose something to work for and either write it on the dry/erase board or put a picture of it on the token board. Give the child tokens when they are showing good behaviors and take away tokens when they are showing bad behaviors, when the child reaches their chosen reinforcement, give it to them and then reset the board.

Tip #3: Have them do something they don’t like

When they start to throw a tantrum or hurt themselves there are some options of things you can have them do that they might not like, for example you could put them on time-out in a secluded room until they are calm, or you could have them stand up and sit down several times until they are calm. This will show them that they shouldn’t be doing what they are doing. Sometimes they don’t understand why they can’t do it, and if they realize that if they throw a tantrum, they have to go into the time-out room and they don’t like the time-out room then their behaviors start to decrease.