Managing Aggressive Behaviour in Autism and ADHD: Tips for Parents, Carer and Support Workers by Victor Care

Introduction

Managing behavioral challenges in children with disabilities can feel overwhelming for parents, careers, and support providers. From meltdowns to emotional outbursts, these behaviors often stem from unmet needs, communication barriers, or sensory sensitivities. Understanding and addressing these behaviors with tailored strategies can pave the way for positive growth and improved quality of life.

At Victor Care, as experienced NDIS providers, we specialize in empowering families with practical, evidence-based strategies that foster independence, emotional regulation, and better communication for children with Autism, ADHD, and other disabilities. In this blog, we’ll delve into challenges and actionable solutions, complete with real-life examples.

Common Behavioral Challenges and Their Causes

1. Meltdowns and Emotional Outbursts
   1. Cause: Often triggered by sensory overload, changes in routine, or frustration from being unable to communicate needs effectively.
   2. Example: A child with Autism may cry, scream, or throw objects when exposed to loud noises in a shopping centre.
2. Aggressive Behaviours
   1. Cause: Can arise from difficulty expressing emotions or unmet physical or emotional needs. Some children may also engage in self-injurious behaviours, such as biting themselves, or display aggression towards others by hitting or biting.
   2. Example: A child with ADHD might hit or push others during transitions at school due to anxiety or a lack of structure.
3. Non-Compliance or Defiance
   1. Cause: Often a result of feeling overwhelmed or a lack of understanding of expectations.
   2. Example: A child with learning disabilities refusing to complete homework might be struggling to process instructions.
4. Social Challenges
   1. Cause: Difficulty understanding social cues or engaging in reciprocal interactions.
   2. Example: A child might interrupt conversations or avoid group activities due to discomfort in social settings.

De-Escalation Strategies for Triggered Moments

When a child is already angry, sad, or aggressive, the focus shifts to calming them down and ensuring their emotional and physical safety. Here are some strategies to manage these situations effectively:

When a child is already angry, sad, or aggressive, the focus shifts to calming them down and ensuring their emotional and physical safety. Here are some strategies to manage these situations effectively:

1. Stay Calm and Regulate Your Own Emotions

• Why It Works: Children often mirror the emotions of the adults, such as parents, carers, or support workers, around them. Staying calm helps de-escalate the situation.
• Why It Works: Children often mirror the emotions of the adults around them. Staying calm helps de-escalate the situation.
• How to Do It:
  • Use a soothing tone of voice and avoid shouting.
  • Take deep breaths to model calm behaviour.
  • Example: A support worker uses a calm, low voice to talk to a child during a meltdown, reducing the intensity of the child’s response.

2. Rubbing Back or Hands

• Why It Works: For children who are not touch-sensitive, gentle physical contact can stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, promoting relaxation and emotional balance.
• How to Do It: Parents, carers, or support workers can rub the child’s back or hands gently in a soothing motion while offering calm verbal reassurances, such as “You’re safe” or “Let’s take a deep breath together.”
• Example: A carer notices a child beginning to escalate and gently rubs their back while speaking softly, helping the child to feel secure and calm. When a child is already angry, sad, or aggressive, the focus shifts to calming them down and ensuring their emotional and physical safety. Here are some strategies to manage these situations effectively:

3. Create a Safe Space

• Why It Works: A designated safe area helps children feel secure and reduces external triggers. Parents, carers, or support workers can help establish this space.
• Why It Works: A designated safe area helps children feel secure and reduces external triggers.
• How to Do It:
  • Lead the child to a quiet, familiar space with minimal stimuli.
  • Provide comforting sensory tools, like a weighted blanket or noise-cancelling headphones.
  • Example: A parent guides their child to a “calm corner” filled with sensory toys during a meltdown in the living room.

4. Validate Their Emotions

• Why It Works: Acknowledging the child’s feelings builds trust and helps them feel understood. Parents, carers, or support workers play a vital role in this process.
• Why It Works: Acknowledging the child’s feelings builds trust and helps them feel understood.
• How to Do It:
  • Use simple phrases like, “I see you’re upset,” or “It’s okay to feel angry.”
  • Avoid dismissing or minimizing their emotions.
  • Example: When a child throws a toy out of frustration, a carer says, “I know you’re upset because the game isn’t working the way you wanted. Let’s try again together.”

5. Use Distraction or Redirection

• Why It Works: Redirecting attention to a preferred activity can interrupt the escalation. This technique can be effectively implemented by parents, carers, or support workers.
• Why It Works: Redirecting attention to a preferred activity can interrupt the escalation.
• How to Do It:
  • Offer a favourite toy, game, or activity.
  • Use humour or a playful approach to shift focus.
  • Example: During a tantrum, a support worker introduces a sensory ball the child enjoys playing with, which gradually calms them down.

6. Practice Grounding Techniques

• Why It Works: Grounding helps children focus on the present and regain control. Parents, carers, or support workers can guide children through grounding exercises.
• Why It Works: Grounding helps children focus on the present and regain control.
• How to Do It:
  • Use the “5-4-3-2-1” technique: Name 5 things you can see, 4 you can touch, 3 you can hear, 2 you can smell, and 1 you can taste.
  • Encourage deep breathing exercises.
  • Example: A carer helps a child count objects in the room while taking deep breaths together.

7. Give Them Time

• Why It Works: Sometimes children need space to process their emotions. Parents, carers, or support workers should allow this time while providing quiet reassurance.
• Why It Works: Sometimes children need space to process their emotions.
  • Allow them to step away from the situation without pressure.
  • Offer quiet reassurance that you’re there when they’re ready.
  • Example: A parent gives their child 10 minutes in a quiet room after a meltdown, then gently checks in to see if they’re ready to talk.

8. Snacks for Emotional Regulation

• Why It Works: Snacks with diverse textures (e.g., crunchy crackers or chewy fruit) can offer sensory input, helping children self-soothe and regulate emotions.
• How to Do It: Parents, carers, or support workers can offer snacks during or after a challenging moment, creating a calming reinforcement. Choose healthy, sensory-rich options that the child enjoys.
• Example: A carer gives a child a chewy fruit snack during a meltdown, helping to ground them while shifting their focus to the sensory experience.

9. Games During Travel or at Home

• Why It Works: Games provide a productive outlet for energy, help shift focus from stressful moments, and can aid emotional regulation. Sensory games also offer calming effects while keeping the child engaged.
• How to Do It: Parents, carers, or support workers can incorporate simple and interactive activities that are fun yet calming:
  • Travel Games: “Spot the Colour” (ask the child to find objects outside the car of a certain colour) or “Counting Game” (count cars, animals, or trees).
  • Home Games: DIY scavenger hunts where the child searches for specific objects or follows clues.
  • Sensory Games: Using stress balls, textured toys, or sensory play kits to engage the child’s sense of touch.
  • Game Devices: Use calming or interactive apps and games designed for emotional regulation, ensuring screen time is purposeful and engaging.
• Example: During a road trip, a parent initiates a “Spot the Red Car” game to divert the child’s attention from rising anxiety, creating a fun and engaging distraction.

Strategies to Address Behavioral Challenges

1. Developing Personalized Communication

• Why It Works: For non-verbal children or those with limited communication skills, personalized methods bridge the gap and reduce frustration. It empowers children to express their needs effectively.
• How to Do It:
  • Use visual aids like picture cards to represent common needs (e.g., food, play, rest).
  • Introduce simple hand gestures or basic sign language for key phrases.
  • Utilize communication devices or apps tailored to the child’s abilities.
  • Example: A parent creates a chart with pictures of snacks, toys, and emotions. The child points to the picture of a ball to indicate they want to play.

2. Identify Triggers and Patterns

• Why It Works: Understanding the root cause of behaviours allows for targeted solutions.
• How to Do It:
  • Keep a behaviour log: Note the time, environment, and potential triggers of challenging behaviours.
  • Example: A parent notices that their child becomes agitated during transitions at school. A visual schedule with countdown timers is introduced to prepare the child, reducing anxiety and meltdowns.

2. Build Predictable Routines

• Why It Works: Consistency reduces uncertainty and helps children feel secure.
• How to Do It:
  • Create visual schedules using pictures or symbols for daily tasks.
  • Use timers to indicate transitions, such as moving from playtime to homework.
  • Example: A child who struggles with bedtime transitions benefits from a consistent nightly routine: bath, story time, and calming music.

3. Teach Emotional Regulation

• Why It Works: Helps children manage overwhelming emotions more effectively.
• How to Do It:
  • Introduce simple breathing exercises, like “smell the flower, blow out the candle.”
  • Provide sensory tools, such as stress balls or weighted blankets.
  • Example: During a therapy session, a support worker teaches a child with ADHD to recognize when they’re getting frustrated and use a “calm corner” with sensory items to decompress.

4. Foster Communication Skills

• Why It Works: Reduces frustration by helping children express their needs and emotions.
• How to Do It:
  • Use alternative communication systems, such as Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) or speech-generating devices.
  • Encourage verbal expressions with prompts and positive reinforcement.
  • Example: A non-verbal child learns to use PECS to request water, reducing tantrums caused by unmet needs.

5. Use Positive Reinforcement

• Why It Works: Encourages desired behaviors

  by associating them with rewards.

• How to Do It:
  • Reward small steps toward positive behavior with praise, stickers, or extra playtime.
  • Avoid focusing on negative behaviours; instead, redirect attention to positive actions.
  • Example: A child who completes a morning routine without resistance earns extra screen time as a reward.

6. Collaborate with Professionals

• Why It Works: Specialists like occupational therapists, speech therapists, and support providers can offer tailored strategies.
• How to Do It:
  • Engage with professionals to create individualized plans.
  • Involve NDIS providers like Victor Care to ensure consistent support across home, school, and therapy settings.
  • Example: An occupational therapist helps a child with sensory sensitivities by designing a sensory diet, which Victor Care staff implement during community outings.

The Role of Support Systems

Parents and carers don’t have to face these challenges alone. Professionals such as occupational therapists, speech therapists, and support workers can provide valuable guidance. At Victor Care, we collaborate with families and therapists to develop personalized strategies for managing behaviors and promoting independence.

Our team focuses on:

• Tailored Support Plans: Strategies designed specifically for your child’s needs and goals.
• Holistic Collaboration: We work closely with therapists and families to ensure consistent support.
• Skill-Building Activities: Our team helps children develop communication, emotional regulation, and social skills.

Conclusion

Addressing behavioral challenges in children with disabilities requires understanding, patience, and a collaborative approach. By using strategies like emotional regulation techniques, fostering communication, and working closely with professionals, parents and carers can create a supportive environment that enables children to thrive. Each child is unique, and personalized approaches can significantly impact their emotional growth, independence, and quality of life.

Call to Action

At Victor Care, we understand the challenges families face and are here to support you every step of the way. As experienced NDIS providers, we specialize in creating tailored support plans and working collaboratively with families and therapists to achieve meaningful outcomes. Whether it’s community access, in-home care, or behavior management, our dedicated team is ready to help.

Contact Victor Care today to learn how we can support you and your family. Together, we can build a brighter future for your child.