Tools for Schools
- Differentiate your use of voice, gesture and body language.
- Focus on reducing anxiety and thereby behaviours.
- Use positive reinforcement and choices creatively e.g. ‘catch them being good’, find alternative activities or fiddle toys
- Positive reinforcement of expectations through verbal scripts and visual prompts
- Have a quiet area to go to if the child cannot manage to stay in a particular activity. Plan how to support them to engage on another occasion.
- Pick your battles- it is unreasonable to expect “perfect” behaviour and it is unreasonable to apply the same sanctions in the same way as you would with a child who is neurotypical and doesn’t struggle with impulse control or maintaining focus
- Ensure a positive progressive approach to managing behaviour is taken, not a punitive behaviourist approach- even though the latter may be more immediate and may make adults feel temporarily more in control
- Staff consider a low arousal approach.
Links
Low arousal approach information.
Last updated 30 November 2020