what is the best way to handle an autistic childs tantrums.?

Answer 1

For my son we had to take several different approaches. First, MOST tantrums in an autistic child are related to sensory overload, and although hard sometimes, shouldn't be taken personally. Their need for routine is also related to sensory issues, and when their routine is broken, or if you are lacking in a routine, then you will see tantrums. So the first step is to make sure you are working on sensory integration. Without that, you won't be able to stop them. Second, get on a strict schedule. All small kids thrive on a schedule, but it's a necessity with autism. That helps them to process the world, to know what is going to happen and when. Before transitioning from one activity to another give a warning. I tell mine five minutes before we're going to do something else, then count down every minute from there. He's four, and has learned to understand this process. Timers work too, but without counting down, it's still a shock to them when the timer goes off. The next step is to establish a sensory diet. Figure out when the tantrums occur the most, what activities calm him/her down. For mine, he can't handle much sensory input in the afternoons, but he can in the mornings after a good night's sleep. So we plan things around that, as much as possible. For him, swinging on the swing and playing board games calms him, so we do that in the afternoon and evenings, which drastically cut down on tantrums. The last thing is behavior modification. This is crucial to raising an autistic child. It depends on the severity of the autism as to what you can use, but here's what I use. Mine is very high-functioning, which usually means more tantrums. Use sticker charts as a reward system if he/she is capable of understanding this. Rewarding an autistic child is much more effective than just punishing them, and it took me a long time to figure that one out. Tim at age three, had a chore chart. I gave him basic chores to do in the mornings (this helps him organize his thoughts for the day and gives him something to be proud of) with help, and he gets a sticker for each chore. When I started this last year I also included behaviors like minding mom and dad, being nice to his brother, etc. And things that I wanted him to work on like staying in his own bed all night. This was very successful. Now, it's strictly a chore chart. I use a happy face/sad face system for his behaviors. If I catch him doing something nice he gets happy faces, and if he tantrums and I know it's not directly sensory related, then he gets a sad face. At the end of the day if he has more happy than sad faces, then I do something special with him after his brother goes to bed. Those are just some ideas, you really have to use trial and error to figure out what works for your child. But whatever you find that works, be consistent! Autistic children are very smart when it comes to manipulation (if they're high-functioning) so you have to be consistent, to give them the boundaries they need. As they mature, these things aren't quite as necessary, but it really has to be established early on. My son has fewer and fewer tantrums,and are much more manageable now just a year after I started all these things. Also, find some groups on Yahoo or Myspace for parents of autistic children, I've learned SO MUCH from the ones I'm on. Good luck to you!

Answer 2

Be calm and treat it like any other expression of displeasure. If there are situations that you can predict will lead to a tantrum, have a short talk to help the child predict it, too. Also if you can recognize escalation, sometimes you can head it off with a quick reminder to "listen to your breathing, can you take it down a notch?" Or whatever. But just bear in mind that doesn't always work.

Mine's 22 and still having tantrums, even with clonidine twice a day. Sometimes I stand in front of the door if he's trying to get outside, because he tends to run into the street. That's life with a person who has autism. It's hurting him more than it is you.

In school, they would "spring into action", jumping up and tackling him. It only made it worse. Nowadays at his sheltered workshop, they just kind of steer him away from anything breakable til he gets ahold of himself, then one person asks him to type his feelings while everyone else goes back to what they were doing.

It only happens once every couple of months now anyway.

Wow, what a ******* you are. Making fun of someone with a real problem. And you're not even funny.

Answer 3

I figure that any individual who has a tantrum is just teething. If you slip something soft into the child's mouth (gardenhose, giant dill pickle, or garden rake should suffice), the tantrum should disappear just like haunting memories of the child getting pelted by tic-tacs and pebbles by the children around him/her did. *sigh* I sure do love helping people! :)

Answer 4

I lock mine in the tool shed for about 3 hours. But be careful, if you forget about him/her it can result in catastrophe. One time I did so, and 14 hours later when I finally realized my little Sammy was in the shed and I let him out he came at me like a windmill of fists and spit. Let's just say it didn't really quell anything...
If you don't have a shed a cellar or closet will do.
Good Luck!

Kacky- I already have children, as mentioned above. Listen, I come from the old school, we don't put up with any BS from our kids, retarded or not. I respect the way you baby and shelter your 22 yo child, but I do things my way, the West Virginian way. And we get results. Unlike you, I expect my boy to go out into the real world when he hits 18. Retard or not, he's gotta be a man and do the right thing!

Answer 5

Feed him,..

Once he tastes the back of your hand a few times,.. he'll get the idea