Raising a child is not for the faint of heart. Even the most well-behaved children have their moments. However, children with Autism often experience meltdowns or aggressive behavior that can be extremely disheartening for parents of children with ASD.
It is important to know that aggressive behavior in children with Autism has less to do with anger and more to do with sending a message that they do not know how to communicate in any other way. Once you understand why your child is acting out, you can use therapy methods, such as in-home ABA therapy, or in-school ABA therapy to teach children how to replace the need for aggression with appropriate behaviors.
While ABA therapy is the best way to reduce aggressive behaviors in children with ASD, we have put together this list of tips to help you effectively deal with aggressive behaviors in your child with ASD:
- When dealing with aggressive behaviors you must stay calm and keep your emotions in check so as to not escalate the situation.
- Try to limit what you say during a meltdown. Use short phrases and directions rather than long sentences that can be overwhelming for your child to process.
- Every child with Autism should have a safe space, or cool-down space they can go to relax and come down.
- Use visual cues to communicate with your child when they are melting down. You can practice these visual cues when your child is calm so you have a plan of action.
Dealing with aggressive behavior in your child with Autism can be challenging, especially when you are doing it on your own. But you do not have to tackle aggressive behavior alone. Through in-school ABA therapy and in-home ABA therapy your child can receive the help they need to decrease disruptive or aggressive behaviors and increase appropriate responses.
At Step Forward ABA we offer the best ABA therapists in the Miami Metro area. With options ranging from in-school ABA therapy, in-home ABA therapy, in-center ABA therapy, and more, we offer your child all the resources needed to thrive in any environment.
Using the principles of Applied Behavioral Analysis therapy, our ABA therapists in the Miami Metro area create goal-based ABA plans that are tailored to your child’s unique objectives. At Step Forward ABA we also offer support and education for parents to improve ABA outcomes and help parents cope with dealing with aggressive behaviors in their children.
Contact us today to learn more about in-home ABA therapy and in-school ABA therapy OR to chat with the best ABA therapists in the Miami Metro area!
