Self-discipline is a skill that most autistic children have difficulty acquiring. This includes not only inappropriate outbursts but also habits that can be potentially dangerous, such as being aggressive towards others or self-harming, such as banging your head against walls. To curb these behaviors, one technique that parents and teachers can use to control autistic tendencies is self-management. Giving the child authority over—or herself—is the key to taking control of often violent situations and can be a positive step toward learning other behaviors.
Self-management works because the child now learns to trust himself more than others. By teaching self-management during specific times of the day, such as when the child is in school or therapy, the child will be more likely to continue practicing self-control at all times of the day. The key is to implement a program in which he learns to control his own behavior and conduct. Start with less time, and continue to supervise the child with more attachment and right thoughts. Remind the child every ten to fifteen minutes that he is in control and needs to be alert and aware of good and bad behavior.
This monitoring is a form of self-assessment. When a child learns spirit control, he or she can think more closely about behavior in the past and present. Set clear goals with the child—for example, an afternoon with no aggression toward others or a day at school with no self-injury. Ask the child every fifteen minutes how he is doing. Is the goal being met? What troubles is she going through? If the answer is no, then perhaps the child is not ready to self-manage, or perhaps the goals are too unattainable. You want to make sure the goals are easy to reach first and then lead the child to more difficult goals in the future. When a child is successful in self-monitoring, he or she will have a more positive attitude towards the experience.
Of course, an important part of self-management is a reward system. Have the child come up with their own reward based on interest. Reinforcement will mark these good behavior goals more clearly in the child's mind, and by choosing and rewarding them, the child will feel completely in control of the self-management system. Choose simple rewards to begin with, such as smiley faces for each goal and sad faces for each goal, and work up to a larger goal, such as a special activity or new toy when a certain amount of smiley faces have been achieved.
These types of programs do not develop overnight, it is very important to be patient. That's why you and the child must have enough time to experience self-management. By reinforcing good behavior with rewards set by the child rather than by an adult, he or she will be more likely to continue it even when he or she does not participate in the program. If your autistic child is mature enough, this may be a good treatment program to try.
On the contrary, even if the child is not that mature, there is nothing to worry about that because maturity comes with experiences. The parents can still start practicing the above-mentioned skills but with a little more care and concern for the specific child.
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