Try These 15 Positive Behavior Strategies for Children on the Autism Spectrum

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In this article, you will find 15 supportive behavior strategies for children on the autism spectrum (some strategies can be used with adults as well). Many of the strategies can also be used to help children without autism who have challenging behaviors.

Why Do We Need Behavior Strategies For Children on the Autism Spectrum?

When caring for or working with a child with autism, a parent, teacher, or other adult may become frustrated with the child’s behavior. Behaviors can come on suddenly, last for hours, be hard to control, or make the adult scared or embarrassed.

Side-Note: *Autism is considered to be on a spectrum. It is called a spectrum because some people have only a few or mild symptoms while others have many or severe symptoms.

Characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder

Here are some common characteristics of children on the autism spectrum to help you better understand the root of these behaviors. Some of the characteristics below can also be common in very young children, or individuals with developmental or emotional disabilities.

Keep in mind that all children on the autism spectrum are different. Some may have only a few of the characteristics below, while others may have many.

Characteristics of Autism Can Include:

• trouble using and understanding language or certain aspects of language such as sarcasm, expressions, and body language.
• difficulty taking in sensory input in an ordinary way. For example, a vacuum cleaner may sound overly loud, a smell may be extra strong, or the feel of something may be extra itchy.
• a need for a particular routine so they know what to expect as they can become frustrated when things don’t go the way they had anticipated
• trouble recognizing another person’s opinion or understanding another person’s feelings.
• difficulty working on or participating in activities with no clear ending (e.g., an open-ended writing activity, a class lecture)
• difficulty switching from one activity to another, especially if they have to switch from something enjoyable to something not enjoyable (I think everyone can relate to that).
• difficulty organizing themselves in productive play when not directed or given specific instructions.

Side-Note: *All children have exceptional strengths as well. It is extremely important to focus on these strengths, let the child know how proud you are of his efforts, and incorporate strengths into play and learning.

Sometimes the characteristics listed above lead to challenging behaviors at home, in the classroom, or in the community which can be frustrating for the child and the adults caring for them.

15 Behavior Strategies Adults Can Use When Working with Children on the Autism Spectrum:

Children who do not appear to understand language may not respond to some of the strategies in this article, but some suggestions for children with severe language difficulties are also included.

If you feel like the situation with your child is unmanageable, seek help from a medical, behavioral or mental health professional. If you work for a school, talk to your team members to get as much support as possible.

1 – Let your child/student know what will happen next.

For example, “After you finish the puzzle, it is time to brush your teeth”, or “In five minutes it is time to turn off the computer and start your writing assignment.”

For some children, it is helpful to set a timer so the child can keep track of how much time is left. So in the example above “In five minutes it is time to turn off the computer and start your writing assignment,” you would set the timer for five minutes. Some children need reminders as the time is winding down to 2 minutes, 1 minute, etc.

For children who have trouble understanding the concept of time or numbers, a visual timer can be helpful because the child can see how much time is left.

Visual timers can be purchased on Amazon or other online stores. Here are some examples:

Red Clock Visual Timer

With a red clock visual timer, children can see time running out as the red disappears.

Sand timer

Sand timers let children know that time is up when the sand at the top gets to the bottom.

You can even get a free visual timer app on your Apple or Android device. Just do a search for visual timer in your app store.

See 3 Ways to Use Timers to Encourage Homework and Chore Completion for more information on how to implement timers for children.

Some children respond better to a visual countdown chart, than a visual timer. An example would be a piece of laminated construction paper with the numbers 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1 Velcroed on. When there is 5 minutes left you show the child the countdown (e.g., we have five more minutes of computer time). At four minutes you pull off the number 5. You keep doing this each minute until you pull off the 1 and that is the signal that the activity is over and you will be moving on to the next activity). Here is an example:

You would need to get the paper laminated and purchase Velcro to make this kind of chart (there are instructions at the bottom of this article for how to do this).

Side Note: *Children who have difficulty understanding language may respond better to pictures telling them what is expected, rather than verbal directions. For example, if you want the child to work on math and then have a play activity, you can show them a “first/then” board rather than saying “First we will do math and then play a fun game.” See an example of a “first/then” board below.

Just like the timers, you can also find Apple and Android First/Then apps. These apps have libraries of real photos to create first /then boards right on the screen. For instance, you can look at the First Then Visual Schedule HD by Good Karma Applications, on your smart device.

2-Set expectations, be consistent and follow through.

For example, if you tell your child that you will play a game with them after your phone call, make sure that you keep your end of the bargain (barring unforeseen circumstances).

You may need to give your child a choice of what activity to do during that time that you are on the phone.

If your child can’t tell time, set a timer that your child can see. After your child chooses what they will do (e.g., puzzles) you can say something like, okay work on these puzzles for five minutes, and then I will be off the phone. After that, we will play a game.

If you use this strategy consistently, your child will come to know what is expected and will have confidence in what you say.

As they improve, you can increase the time. Once they learn how to play independently while you talk on the phone, you may be able to fade back on such a rigid set-up, but it is a good starting point to teach them how to behave in a particular situation (e.g, while you talk on the phone, when you need to work on something, etc.). 

If you don’t implement expectations with consistency and follow through on your words, your child will not know what to expect. This can lead to anxiety and challenging behavior (e.g., talking to you while you are on the phone, repeatedly asking when you will be off the phone, etc.).

Children on the spectrum or those with other challenging behaviors thrive on predictability, so do your best to make their world predictable. Another example of predictability would be having a set routine each night (e.g. first homework…then TV or first put pajamas on…then read a story).

Keep in mind that difficult behaviors are more likely to come out when things aren’t predictable, and we know we can’t make everything predictable all the time.

Just know that if you are doing your best, it is not your or your child’s fault when things don’t go according to plan. Just get back in the swing of a predictable routine as soon as possible.

Research Reference: Premack Principle (First-Then) In Social Learning Theory

3 – Acknowledge your child or students for complying with your requests.

For instance, if your child is using a loud voice in the movie theater and you say, “whisper in the theater,” praise the child with a comment such as “nice job whispering”, or “thank you for being respectful in the theater.”

For children who understand language well, situations like this are a good time to teach about other people’s perspectives (e.g., “Thank you for whispering. This lets other people hear the movie.”).

4 – Tell the child specifically what you expect and allow them to earn privileges for complying with your expectations.

For instance, if your child often has a tantrum in a store when they can’t get a toy, tell them exactly what you expect before you go to the store. Follow up with a privilege if your child meets the expectation.

For instance, you can say something like “We are going to Target. We are going to the school supply aisle to buy paper and pens, and then we will pay and go home. I do not have money for toys today.” Once in the store you can give reminders (e.g., now we are going to get the paper and pens, now we will go pay, you’re doing a nice job following the rules, now we are going home, etc.).

Let the child know that they can earn a privilege for following the rules. For instance, after we follow the rules at the store, you can watch your favorite show, etc. Privilege ideas include playing a favorite game once at home, watching a favorite show, going on the computer, going for a walk, or going to the park, etc. Try to think of a privilege that your child might like or ask them what they would like to work towards.

When the child earns the privilege, praise them with specific language. In the example above you could say, “You followed the rules at the Target. We got the paper and pens, paid, and came home. Nice work! Now you can enjoy some TV time.”

Make sure the privilege is something the child wants. You can let your child choose what they would like to work for ahead of time. Children also benefit from nonverbal praise such as high fives, smiles, thumbs up, etc.

Side Note: *Children with difficulty understanding language often respond better to pictures, visual cues, demonstrations or physical prompting than verbal instructions. For example, many children I have worked with on the spectrum walked nicely in the hall after I demonstrated how, rather than after I said “walk nicely.”

5 – Give Choices.

All children like to feel a sense of control over their world. Many children benefit from having the choices limited to two to four options (depending on the child), as they get overwhelmed with too many choices and cannot decide.

Examples of choices are: “Do you want to play a board game or watch TV,” “Do you want butter or jelly on your bagel,” “Do you want to wear the green or red shirt?”

Again, children with language difficulties often have more success making choices when you show them the options or pictures of the options (e.g., hold up the red and green shirt and let them point to the one they want). An IPAD App for generating pictures to show kids choices is Choice Boards. See an example below:

6 – For some children with language difficulties, showing the child the activity or toy that he will be utilizing next is helpful to encourage him to move from one activity to another.

For example, if the child is on the computer and you want them to come work on a puzzle, show them the puzzle so they know what it is you want them to do.

7 – If possible, use a schedule to let the child know how their day will go.

For children who have trouble reading or understanding language, a visual schedule would be best. A schedule for after school could include “eating a snack”, “doing homework”, “watching TV”, “playing a game with the family”, “reading a book”, “taking a bath” and “going to bed.”

A visual schedule at school could include “math”, “reading”, “gym”, “lunch”, “recess”, “art”, “science”, “packing up”, and “getting on the bus.” Below is an example of a visual schedule:

See How to Use Schedules to Improve Children’s Behavior and Mini Visual Schedules for Busy Families for more on getting the materials for more.

Research: Effects of Activity Schedules on Challenging Behavior Exhibited in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Systematic Review

8 – Allow the child to bring a transitional object from one activity to the next.

For instance, if the child has to leave the classroom to go with a new staff member such as a speech therapist, let them bring a favorite object from the classroom such as a stress ball or toy car.

This can assist with helping him feel more comfortable in the unfamiliar surroundings.

9 – Distract and redirect problematic behavior instead of saying “stop” or “no.”

For example, if the child is running in the store, remind them or show them how to walk nicely. If necessary, find something interesting to show them and call their attention to it, rather than focusing on the problematic behavior.

If they are running in the hall at school, redirect them back to the line, with a short directive such as, “Come back to your spot in line” or remind them to “walk in the hallway.” For children with trouble understanding language, try demonstrating what is expected or use a gesture, rather than just giving the verbal direction.

10 – If the child seems over-stimulated from sensory input, such as in a large crowd, bring him to a quieter place to de-stress.

Be mindful of situations where your child might feel overwhelmed before you take him there (e.g., a fireworks show, a crowded festival, etc.).

There are also strategies to create an environment that helps a child with autism feel less overwhelmed by sensory input. See How 5 Tips to Set Up the Learning Environment for Children with Autism and ADHD which includes strategies that can be used at home and in school.

Related Article: How to Protect Children with Autism Who May Wander Away

11 – Make directions clear, short, and concrete.

For example, if your child is throwing food at the table say, “eat your food” rather than “Be good at the table,”  “Don’t throw your food” or “Would you stop with that! You are always throwing your food.” For children with difficulty understanding language, showing them a picture or a visual demonstration of the behavior you want to see, can be helpful.

12 – Take advantage of teachable moments.

For example, If the child snatches a toy from another child, teach them how to ask for the toy rather than reprimanding them for snatching the toy.

13 – When giving tasks, assignments, chores, etc. many children do better if they know when the task will end.

Some examples of activities with a clear ending include puzzles, a specific number of math problems, a specific number of pages to read, a timed event (e.g., the lesson will last ten minutes – set a timer), a specified way to complete a chore such as “Put ten toys in the bin.” or “Spray the window three times and use the paper towel to wipe the spots off,” a specific number of lines to write on the page for a writing assignment, etc.

Visually defining the task is helpful as well; for example numbering the paper for a math assignment, using a visual timer or graphic organizer for a lecture, numbering the lines for a writing assignment, etc.. See an example of an activity with a clear visual ending below:

Please cut out each word and match it to the correct picture.

Download This Activity

Related Article: Find Out Why I Tried These Hands On/Interactive Tasks with My Students on the Autism Spectrum

Additionally, when the task has a clear visual ending, it eliminates the need for a timer. For instance, if the child is working on a 10 piece puzzle you can let them know what comes next (after you finish the puzzle, it is time for dinner) and no timer would be needed.

This concept can be applied to anything with a clear visual ending (e.g., after you finish the ten math problems, you can go on the computer). Whether you are using a timer or giving an activity with a clear visual ending, give a break in between for the child to do something enjoyable if they get overwhelmed or frustrated with lengthy tasks.

For example, if the child is supposed to write 20 sentences for homework, let them write ten, take a 10-minute break to do a preferred activity, and then do the next ten. (set a timer or use another method to clearly indicate when the break is coming to an end, such as a countdown chart or a short activity with a clear ending).

14 – Some children thrive when given structured hands-on or visual activities. 

Many children I have worked with or have observed, did very well (sat nicely, worked diligently, etc.) when given a hands-on/visual activity. Examples include playing a computer game, sorting objects by color or object type (for example, putting the silverware away from the dishwasher, sorting laundry by light and dark, putting materials away in the correct boxes, etc.) completing a puzzle, constructing a model car, tracing or coloring in a picture, etc.

Related Article: The Benefits of Hands-On Learning for Children

As another example, some teachers of children on the autism spectrum teach academic skills through sorting tasks. For instance, an activity about learning colors would require the child to put all the yellow chips in a yellow cup, all the blue chips in a blue cup, etc.

Keeping a child focused with an activity they do well at is a great way to encourage calm behavior. However, if the child is feeling overwhelmed or frustrated from the activity, allow a break or a change in the task.

Related Article: A Highly Effective Strategy to Teach Academic Concepts to Students with Autism

15 – Stay calm when interacting with the child (I know it can be hard at times but make every effort to be as calm as possible).

If you are regularly having trouble staying calm, you may benefit from talking to a friend, family member, or therapist for support. Do not take it out on your child. Yelling and threatening will not make behavior better.

It may stop the behavior in the short-term, but the behaviors will occur again. You may actually make the behaviors worse because the child may start to feel anxious, scared, angry, embarrassed, or sad.

Here are some options for how you can create pictures to use with children with language difficulties:

Option 1: Create pictures and schedules on an app and either use them right on the tablet, or print them out and laminate them. You can get laminating done at a an office supply store or purchase your own laminator and laminating patches, such as the Scotch Thermal Laminator Combo Pack shown below.

If you work in a school, they may already have a laminator for you to use. If you are a parent, you can also try asking your child’s school if they can help you laminate some pictures for an at home schedule.

Option 2: Search Google Images for the pictures you want to use, print them out, and laminate them.

Option 3: Purchase ready made laminated pictures such as the SchKIDules 151 Piece Complete Collection Combo Pack for Visual Schedules.

Option 4: Use online software to create and print out pictures such as Boardmaker Online. Boardmaker Online has a variety of pictures and templates for creating pictures and schedules.

Option 5: Take pictures of your own child involved in the activity that you want a picture for. Develop or print out the pictures and laminate them.

Conclusions

The strategies above illustrate ways for the adult to behave in order to promote positive behavior in the child. Adults who work with children with behavior challenges are sometimes surprised to hear that they have to change their own behaviors or change the environment to meet the needs of the child.

As a behavior consultant, I have often heard “Why should I have to change?  He is the one acting out.”, “It is too much work to make these changes.” “Why should he be rewarded for doing what he is supposed to do?”

In actuality, the adult does not have to make any changes in their own behavior or the environment, but then the child’s behavior will likely remain the same.

As far as rewards go, research shows that it is always beneficial to acknowledge and praise children for positive behavior and to let children earn privileges rather than taking privileges away.

Related Article: When Do Rewards Make Sense? 25 Privileges You Can Let Your Child Earn for Good Behavior

Children on the spectrum are not choosing to act in a way that is frustrating to you or anyone else. They legitimately need positive support from you to help them meet their emotional/behavioral needs.

Finally, it is important to recognize that some children on the autism spectrum have trouble generalizing expectations across situations, so the same strategies may need to be used in situations that are similar to one another.

Keep in Mind: If you are using these strategies for the first time, you may not see change as quickly as you’d like. Your child/student will not be used to your new techniques and may even push harder due to the sudden change in your behavior. 

I know it is hard but be patient and keep implementing these strategies with consistency.

Remember – there is no magic answer. All you can do is try your best. If you are putting sincere effort into implementing effective strategies and trying your best to meet the needs of your child/student, you are doing the right thing, even if you are not getting the results you hoped for.

Video Presentation/Slide Show: Great for Staff Development Day or Parent Training Classes (created before article updates – stay tuned for updated video)

Related Article: 12 Ways Schools Can Support Your Child on the Autism Spectrum

What did I miss? Please add your own effective strategies below.

Thank you for visiting educationandbehavior.com, a free resource for parents/caregivers, teachers, and counselors.

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