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- My Other Hat
- Introduction
- What are you thinking?
- Is it a disability?
- Look at all it takes
- Say OUCH
- Observe
- Understand
- Change
- Help
- Heartbreak Graph
- Strategies
- Resources
- Download complete article (pdf)
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Strategies
Conventional ways (good and bad) to get children to behave include:
- Rules – “No
hitting”
- Modeling – “I’m
SO mad! I’m taking some deep
breaths to calm down!”
- Reasoning – “Hitting
hurts. Sam likes playing with you if you don’t hit.”
- Encouragement – “I
see you using your self control, Abdul.”
- Praise – “I
am so proud of you when you take a break instead of hitting.”
- Rewards – “That’s a whole
day with no hitting. You can choose a sticker!”
- Consequences – “When
you hit, you have to leave the group.”
- Threats – “If you keep hitting, you’ll
be in big trouble!”
- Punishment – “I’m taking away that
truck because you hit Remi.”
These conventional approaches don’t take
into account potentially huge differences in skills, experience
and temperament. Conventional approaches will work ONLY if the
child has at least SOME ability to perform the required task at least
SOME of the time. As an obvious analogy, punishing (or offering a reward
to) a blind child will NOT change the child's inability to identify
colors!
Alternative Interventions:
- Prevent negative behaviors - modify the
environment, schedule, staffing & activities
to keep everyone safe
- Directly teach & reinforce preferred behaviors
and social skills - most kids "absorb" these skills;
some kids need to be taught step-by-step
- Teach self-monitoring and
self-regulation (e.g. energy level, feelings, taking breaks,
- breathing,
relaxation)
- Provide alternative strategies
- Collaborate with the family - work as
a team, develop strong, proactive communication skills and habits
- Explore
therapy, diet & medications with help from well trained,
child-oriented professionals
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