Home » Pick Your Crowd » Autistic Child » how to handle tantrums?

Hello, guest
|

Name: ladygwen83

[ Original Post ]

I have a 2 1/2 year old about to turn 3 diagnosed with autism who runs around the house screaming and yelling sometimes and I try to figure out what she wants through some of the babysigns her therapist has been teaching her so she isn't hungry or thirsty she doesn't want to play she just runs in a straight line back and forth screaming and crying its at least once a day or once every other day. I try holding her she fights back does anyone have any advice on tantrums? ↓

Name: erachael | Date: Feb 9th, 2011 5:58 PM

I would recommend either timeout in a high chair or run around with her yelling and screaming.
Sound crazy? Well my son would scream in the car and I decided that my daughter and I would scream as well. It took a summer but he finally decided it was too loud for him and stopped the yelling. Plus, I thought the visual of people yelling in a car looked humorous. This made it fun and not frustrating.

If you look at autism it is all about a lack of social understanding so you as the parent will make the connection for them by repeating their behavior. This will annoy them and after a while they will make the connection and stop the behavior.

My daughter has been a great educator for my son, too. Whatever he does to her she can do to him. He is learning from everyone in our family that actions or noises can be annoying or hurtful and that is why we do not do these things.

It makes a blatant connection of I didn't like that when it was done back to me so I'm not going to do that again. ↑

Name: ladygwen83 | Date: Feb 9th, 2011 10:22 PM

thanks for your advice i am going to try this out and see how it works I started feeling bad when i would just let her cry it out until she got tired but I didnt know what else to do. ↑

Name: erachael | Date: Feb 10th, 2011 12:25 AM

Please tell me how it turns out for you. Also, when my son was younger he didn't like to be held but I forced him to sit in my arms and listen to my singing and encouraged eye contact while doing this. He loves hugs now and gives kisses and high fives. From my son I have learned that I have to introduce everything to him because he will not do this for himself. Any other questions I would love to help. ↑

Name: ladygwen83 | Date: Feb 15th, 2011 9:06 PM

I wanted to let you know that her tantrums have been slowly decreasing when I decided to join in she didnt like it at all and gave me a funny look but the screaming stopped :) I have also tried pressure points on her to massage her and wrap her up in a blanket she likes to be tightly wrapped up. I use to live in a tiny 2 bedroom apartment and now we have moved to a house which has a huge backyard I have noticed less tantrums even with our moving to this new house with more room to run around she hasn't been as cranky I know I will still have the occasional tantrum but at least it isnt everyday now :) ↑

Name: erachael | Date: Feb 16th, 2011 1:05 AM

I am happy that things are working out for you and your daughter. I love surprising my son by immitating his behavior.

He has to be thinking,"mommy has lost it." ↑