One of the most challenging behaviors parents and caregivers of children with autism may encounter is aggression, including hitting, kicking, pushing, and biting. When a child exhibits aggressive behavior, parents may feel overwhelmed, confused, and frustrated. It’s important to remember, however, that behavior is communication. There’s always a reason behind those behaviors. Your child may be attempting to communicate a want or need, escape an uncomfortable situation, or cope with sensory overload. Your behavior analyst can help you pinpoint the “why” behind your child’s behaviors.
The good news is that there are many simple, proactive strategies you can use to reduce the likelihood of aggressive behaviors. Let’s explore a few ideas to get you started.
Catch Them Being Good
It’s such a simple concept — but it can truly have a profound impact on behavior. Try to make a conscious effort to notice when your child is engaging in positive behaviors. Often, children who exhibit challenging behaviors receive reprimands and corrections more than positive attention. You can shift this balance by providing behavior-specific praise when you see them using gentle hands or a calm body, especially during times when they tend to exhibit aggression. Over time, this helps them build confidence and teaches them that positive behaviors can earn them more attention than aggressive ones.
Use Visual Supports
It can be frustrating for children when they don’t understand what’s expected of them, especially when they struggle with language processing. Visual supports can make daily routines more predictable, reducing frustration. Some visual supports you might consider using include:
- First-then visual boards
- Visual schedules
- Visual timers
- Choice boards
- Emotion charts
- Social stories
- Picture icons
Provide Warnings (Priming)
Sudden, unpredictable changes or transitions can be tough for many people, but for individuals with autism, they can be especially overwhelming. Prime your child with warnings for upcoming transitions to help them better prepare. For example, if your child is watching a favorite show and you need to turn it off in 10 minutes for bath time, give them a heads-up: “You have 10 more minutes of TV.” Offering a few reminders as the time gets closer—like at 10 minutes, 3 minutes, and 1 minute — can also make the transition smoother.
Use First-Then Language
When it comes to non-preferred activities and transitions, using “first-then” language can make expectations clearer. This approach communicates what needs to happen before they can access a preferred item or activity — For example, “First, brush your teeth, then we’ll sing songs.”
Provide Sensory Supports
If your child struggles with sensory overwhelm, consider offering sensory supports. For example, if noise is a trigger, provide them with noise-reducing headphones before going into loud environments.
Offer Choices Whenever Possible
Giving your child choices can help them feel a greater sense of control over their environment. Whenever possible, allow them to make choices — even small ones, such as picking their own snack or choosing between shirts.
Do an Easy Task Before More Challenging Ones
If you’ll be working on something challenging with your child, it can help to give them an easy task first. Build momentum by having them complete easy, quick tasks. For example, if your child is learning how to tie their shoes and this task tends to evoke aggression, have them do something else that they’re really good at before practicing shoe tying. Provide lots of praise for completing the first task to boost their confidence before starting the second task.
Lean on Your ABA Team for Support
Implementing proactive strategies may prevent occurrences of aggression. However, no strategy is one-size-fits-all. Consult with your behavior analyst during caregiver training for personalized recommendations tailored to your child’s individual needs. Small changes can make a big difference over time. Your ABA team is here to support you along the way.