“Self-control is a skill that many autistic children have difficulty developing. This includes not just unnecessary explosions but also potentially dangerous habits, such as aggression or self-injury, such as shaving one's head on a wall. To prevent these and other behaviors, one method parents and teachers can use to control autistic tendencies is self-regulation. Empowering a child - or himself or herself — is often the key to controlling violent behavior and being a good way to learn new behaviors”.
“Self-control is effective because the child is no longer fully controlled by other people. By teaching them self-control at certain times of the day, such as when a child is at school or on medication, a child will be more likely to develop self-control throughout the day. The key is to use the system when monitoring his or her behavior and activities. Start with short periods, and continue to monitor the child with a view to doing nothing. Every 10 to 15 minutes, remind the child that he or she is in control and needs to monitor and recognize good and bad behavior”.
“This monitoring is a form of self-examination. When a child is in control, he or she may think more deeply about behavior past and present. Set specific goals with your child — for example, on a non-violent afternoon or a day at school without hurting yourself. Every 15 minutes, ask the child how he or she is doing. Is the goal being achieved? If the answer is no, the child may not be ready for it yet, or the goals may not be as achievable. You want to make sure the goals are easy to reach at the beginning, and then move the child to more difficult goals in the future. When the child succeeds in self-examination, he will have a positive attitude about the experience”.
“Off course, an important part of self-control is the reward system. Let the child bring his own reward, depending on the interest. Strengthening will make these ethical goals clearly marked in the child's mind, and by choosing and rewarding- or in itself, the child will feel completely in control of the self-control system. Choose simple prizes to start with, such as a smiley face for every goal achieved and a frustrated face for every unattainable goal, and work towards a larger goal, such as a special task or a new toy when a certain amount of smiling face is reached”.
“Self-control should be taught to children to help them control their emotions and behavior in different situations. There is no way to teach child self-control in the spectrum. However, the more opportunities a child is exposed to, the better the chances of successes”.
“These types of programs do not develop overnight, so it is important that you and your child have enough time to give yourself control. By emphasizing positive rewards, as a child is replaced by an adult, he or she will likely be able to maintain this balance even if he or she does not participate in the program. If your child with autism is old enough, this may be the best treatment you can try”.
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