FAQautism

In the first half of this series about Taming Tantrums, we are looking at one option for helping our friends with autism who displays very explosive behavior. In this case, the youngster, an 8-year-old with normal language skills and emerging reading skills, had a temper tantrum every time his therapist left after music therapy session. Obviously, any strategy for dealing with explosive behavior really needs to be customized to the situation and to the individual, but this is one of many options.

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You will want to look at part 1 of this discussion to see the first three steps required for implementing this strategy successfully. We talked about making advance preparations and about introducing the plan to the youngster. Next we took a look at one way to clearly explain and demonstrate the expected behaviors and consequences.

Now we will look at an option for giving the youngster opportunities to practice the desired behaviors and put his new “calm goodbye” procedure into practice.

Begin your therapy session as usual. At the end of each short activity, whip out the “stop and go” card. Remind him that when you leave, you expect him to stand by the door, wave, and say goodbye so he can get a mint. As the session draws to an end, remind him of your expectations by reviewing, once again, the process in step #2. With a very positive attitude, tell him goodbye, walk with him to the door, show him how to wave and say “Goodbye, Ms Cathy.”

After showing him his treat, carry your music bag and instruments out to your car. Walk back up to the door. If he follows instructions and refrains from explosive behavior, hand him his treat with a smile, praising him for acting like an 8-year-old. Close the door and drive away. If he explodes, get down on his level, give him a very stern look, show him the “stop” side of the card, and eat his mint. Then walk to your car. Follow this procedure consistently, every time you get together for music therapy.

TIP FOR THE DAY. This is just one way to approach this type of issue. No matter the approach you use at home, in the classroom, on the job, or in the community, it might work on the first try, or it may be a slow, gradual process. But I encourage you to be patient. In my experience over the years, clearly stating your exact expectations and consistently following through with the consequences eventually results in replacing inappropriate behaviors with cooperation and contentment.

NOTE TO READERS AND LISTENERS: I am Cathy Knoll, a board certified music therapist and long-time friend of many folks with autism. At FAQautism.com we are committed to providing free, practical, everyday tips for making life better for people with autism. Feel free to send me a confidential email at talk@FAQautism.com with your thoughts or challenging situations or innovative solution. And don’t forget to check out our website for a wealth of ideas and a glimpse into the world of autism. http://FAQautism.com

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