Behavior Strategies, Tips and Tools
Techniques for managing and modifying behavior in children with special needs.
Before You Discipline Your Child
You've had it up to here with your child's behavior -- but is it really misbehavior worthy of disciplinary action, or behavior related to your child's special needs that can be better addressed with understanding, support, and accommodations? Often, changing your actions and reactions will change your child's behavior for the better. Ask yourself these twelve important questions before you…
You've had it up to here with your child's behavior -- but is it really misbehavior worthy of disciplinary action, or behavior related to your child's special needs that can be better addressed with understanding, support, and accommodations? Often, changing your actions and reactions will change your child's behavior for the better. Ask yourself these twelve important questions before you…
Changing the Environment
A definition of "changing the environment," a technique for avoiding misbehavior in children who, due to special needs, are not able to control impulses, foresee consequences, or make good decisions.
A definition of "changing the environment," a technique for avoiding misbehavior in children who, due to special needs, are not able to control impulses, foresee consequences, or make good decisions.
Try Some Behavior Management ... on Yourself
Behavior management techniques work well for children with behavioral special needs. They can also help parents to motivate themselves to be creative in helping their children succeed. Try these two techniques for getting the best of your own behavior.
Behavior management techniques work well for children with behavioral special needs. They can also help parents to motivate themselves to be creative in helping their children succeed. Try these two techniques for getting the best of your own behavior.
How to Stop Your Child From Biting
Biting is a behavior most young children try out, but children with developmental disabilities may be more likely to do it for sensory reasons and less likely to understand that it hurts the other person. Try this technique to nip biting in the bud.
Biting is a behavior most young children try out, but children with developmental disabilities may be more likely to do it for sensory reasons and less likely to understand that it hurts the other person. Try this technique to nip biting in the bud.
Counting to 10
Counting to three may work like magic for some kids, but children with special needs may benefit from a little extra time to process instructions and plan how to follow them.
Counting to three may work like magic for some kids, but children with special needs may benefit from a little extra time to process instructions and plan how to follow them.
Top 10 Time-Out Spots
Looking for a place to put your kids in time-out where they're not going to enjoy being? Sending them to their room, and their stereos, cell phones and TVs, is probably out of the question. Try one of these spots for a little instant boredom.
Looking for a place to put your kids in time-out where they're not going to enjoy being? Sending them to their room, and their stereos, cell phones and TVs, is probably out of the question. Try one of these spots for a little instant boredom.
How to Make a Transition
Do you argue with your child for endless minutes when you need to leave one activity and go to the next? Back that transition time up and be a "human snooze alarm" to give him or her plenty of warning when a change needs to be made.
Do you argue with your child for endless minutes when you need to leave one activity and go to the next? Back that transition time up and be a "human snooze alarm" to give him or her plenty of warning when a change needs to be made.
Listen to Me!
If what you really want is for your child to listen, stop saying "Look at me!" Eye contact can get in the way of the verbal message you're trying to get through.
If what you really want is for your child to listen, stop saying "Look at me!" Eye contact can get in the way of the verbal message you're trying to get through.
Lying vs. "Truthiness"
Is your child really lying, or just dealing in truthiness? The term used by Stephen Colbert to satirize politicians and public figures applies equally well to kids who, without malice or intent, state what they wish or believe to be true rather than what actually is.
Is your child really lying, or just dealing in truthiness? The term used by Stephen Colbert to satirize politicians and public figures applies equally well to kids who, without malice or intent, state what they wish or believe to be true rather than what actually is.
Teach Your Child to Succeed
Behavior is something that can quickly go from bad to worse, as a child who feels like a failure starts to believe that failing is all he can do. Use the "Transforming Your Difficult Child" to teach your child that he can succeed, and teach him how to do it.
Behavior is something that can quickly go from bad to worse, as a child who feels like a failure starts to believe that failing is all he can do. Use the "Transforming Your Difficult Child" to teach your child that he can succeed, and teach him how to do it.