Autism Soccer: Autism and Bad Behavior

Any behavior has a reason for being. A child with ASD may use bad behavior as a means of communication because he does not understand what is happening or to express his frustration when things are not as he expects or wishes.

We know that the misbehavior of our children can become stressful and frustrating when we don’t know why these attitudes are present. Whether it is a child with ASD or not, bad behavior is something that parents and teachers must take into account to seek solutions.

In today's article, we give you a list of ideas and advice regarding the behavior problems of your son or daughter, or one of your students. The vast majority apply to any child, whether or not they have an ASD.

How to deal with the child’s behavior

We know that sometimes bad behavior in our children can become a headache. The objective is not to spoil them but to teach them to handle different situations and to control their impulses. With this list, you can have a little more guidance when facing a behavior situation with your child.

Frequent behavior: any behavior has a reason to be. A child with ASD may use bad behavior to communicate that he doesn’t understand what’s happening or how to express his frustration when things aren’t as he expects. So pay attention to what might be happening.

Bad behavior isn’t removed with bad compression: we have to learn to respond to these bad attitudes, to act calm and not to react in a bad way, this could increase the anger. The idea is to teach him to change that behavior for another that is acceptable.

Wait for him to calm down: don’t try to impose discipline or correct him when he’s angry, distracted, overstimulated, locked up, anxious or in any other emotional state where his instability at that moment prevents him from interacting with you.

Be positive: instead of telling him what he doesn’t have to do, tell him what he has to do. Reinforce when he has done something right. Use a positive language that encourages the child to keep on acting well.

Practice with him: all children need to repeat an activity until it’s incorporated into their daily life. A child with an ASD may need more time and more repetitions. It’s better to practice in a quiet environment and, when he has mastered it, provide some variations to expand this learning.

Explain: it’s easier for any child to do something if he understands the reasons. If you ask him to behave in a certain way because it is the best for his safety and for his health, correctly tell him at an appropriate level for his age and personal characteristics.

Sensory problems: investigate if there is a sensory problem. A common reason for the bad behavior is feeling discomfort for some sensory input, whether visual, auditory, tactile or otherwise.

Search for good partners: teachers, therapists, and pediatricians sometimes have good ideas that they have been able to prove in their work. Exchange information with them, try some of those things.

Exercise: physical activity is an excellent way to stabilize mental processes and to teach self-control. Team sports that require good coordination, skills, and social interactions can help you reduce stress. At Autism Soccer, we would be happy to talk to you and help you by providing some ideas and techniques to handle these situations.

Start paying attention and identify the circumstances in which a bad behavior appears, any information that helps you to correct it is important. One of the great ideas that exist for good development in the behavior, health, and abilities of your child, is the sports.

Autism Soccer has programs for the development of your child.