twitter facebook stumble upon rss

Kids Behaving Badly

by michelle kemper brownlow  posted Tuesday, October 19, 2010
filed under: michelle kemper brownlow
sign up for the momlogic newsletter Tweet This

Guest blogger Michelle Kemper Brownlow: When my 5-year-old son seemingly lost all understanding of obedience and appropriate behavior, I was at a loss for what to do. I sat down with my best friend, who is an occupational therapist, and asked for her help. She suggested charts, stories, flip books and illustrated-behavior examples. She knows that being scheduled and rigid is not in any one single fiber of my being. But I trusted her and dove in with both feet. The difference in my son is AMAZING!

kids behaving badly
There are three tactics that helped the most: 

Setting the timer: I have been an at-home mom for thirteen years, and my older two children are just as fly-by-the-seat-of-the-pants as I am. My third child, I have come to find, is agitated and visibly bothered when there is no beginning and end to activities. So I have our day scheduled, using my cell phone as our timer. 

At 7:40, the alarm goes off, telling us it is time to go to preschool. He comes home at 1:00 and lives to play outside; formerly, he would stay out all day and I would have to persuade him with bribes to come inside when it was time for me to start getting dinner ready. Now, my cell phone tells us at 2:30 that we need to go inside. 

Creating a "social story": If you Google those two words, you will see that this is something parents and teachers use with autistic children, but I can tell you that this works like MAGIC with ANY child! This is a flip book of sorts. Each activity of the day has its own page. The pages are separate, have a hole punched in the top corner and are on a removable ring. Our pages include the words "WAKE UP!" (with a picture of a boy in PJs yawning), "GET DRESSED!" (with a picture of a boy putting on his clothes), "EAT BREAKFAST!" (with a picture of cereal and juice) and many more. 

I am an illustrator so I illustrated our story, but you can print images off the computer that match the activities you are designating for your day. We take this book everywhere so my son knows what to expect next. He knows that when I pick him up today we are going to the library. So when I pick him up from school, his "social story" is on his car seat and turned to the "GO TO LIBRARY" page. It has worked like a charm. 

Using a "smiles chart": We have rewritten the "three strikes, you're out" rule. I made a poster with four large smiley faces. Then I cut out four red circles the same size as the smileys (use masking tape, a cup, etc., for tracing the circles). Whenever there is a behavioral issue, if it is not rectified with a warning, HE covers one smiley with a red circle. (It's important for him to do it.) If he has at least one smiley left at dinnertime, he gets a sticker. If he gets three stickers in a row, he gets to pick a small prize from the prize box.

This took ONE DAY to work! At first, I rewarded him after two stickers in a row, so the "payoff" came sooner and I could create a concrete memory to use as positive reinforcement later to redirect undesirable behaviors. Then I moved to three stickers.


next: Technology So Cool It's Spooky
59 comments so far | Post a comment now
Kristen October 21, 2010, 3:13 AM

You are using an ABA approach to parenting and I think it’s great. These are the strategies that our daughters autism therapists taught us and were carried over in her occupational therapy sessions. I think that ABA therapy has made me a better parent, great to hear of someone else that is not special needs benefiting.

Cheap Conveyancing Solicitors February 15, 2011, 3:01 PM

Somebody essentially help to make seriously articles I would state. This is the first time I frequented your website page and thus far? I amazed with the research you made to create this particular publish amazing. Excellent job!

Min Shmidt February 15, 2011, 5:18 PM

I simply want to tell you that I am beginner to blogs and absolutely loved this page. Probably I’m going to bookmark your website . You certainly have great article content. Kudos for sharing with us your website.

Leon Hukill March 16, 2011, 12:14 PM

This weblog seems to get a good ammount of visitors. How do you advertise it? It offers a nice unique twist on things. I guess having something real or substantial to say is the most important factor.

do follow list March 29, 2011, 1:41 PM

There are a lot of strange comments on here.

Kina Leithiser March 29, 2011, 4:02 PM

There is clearly a lot to identify about this. I believe you made various nice points in features also.

Hortense Jayson March 30, 2011, 5:56 AM

I’m still learning from you, as I’m making my way to the top as well. I definitely love reading all that is written on your site.Keep the information coming. I enjoyed it

galaxy tab cases March 30, 2011, 4:31 PM

What inspired you to wrote this post? Frankly, you did a very good job! Keep on posting and I will keep on reading :D

computer support March 30, 2011, 6:41 PM

Someone essentially assist to make significantly posts I would state. That is the very first time I frequented your website page and so far? I surprised with the analysis you made to make this particular put up extraordinary. Excellent process!

keowee key March 30, 2011, 10:47 PM

Thanks for the advice. Will put it to work. Tom

ebook readers March 31, 2011, 12:11 AM

I like what you guys are up also. Such smart work and reporting! Keep up the superb works guys I have incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it will improve the value of my website :)

Geoffrey O. Hoyle March 31, 2011, 3:21 AM

Interesting

wpolscemamymocneseo March 31, 2011, 8:55 AM

Wonderful goods from you, man. I have understand your stuff previous to and you are just extremely fantastic. I really like what you have acquired here, certainly like what you are saying and the way in which you say it. You make it entertaining and you still take care of to keep it smart. I can not wait to read much more from you. This is actually a terrific site.

wpolscemamymocneseo March 31, 2011, 9:00 AM

Hi there, You’ve done an excellent job. I’ll certainly digg it and personally recommend to my friends. I’m confident they will be benefited from this site.

book of ra online March 31, 2011, 3:20 PM

I was just seeking this information for some time. After 6 hours of continuous Googleing, finally I got it in your site. I wonder what is the lack of Google strategy that don’t rank this type of informative web sites in top of the list. Generally the top web sites are full of garbage.

wpolscemamymocneseo March 31, 2011, 3:33 PM

Hello there, You have done a great job. I’ll definitely digg it and personally recommend to my friends. I’m sure they will be benefited from this site.

wpolscemamymocneseo March 31, 2011, 5:42 PM

Thank you for the auspicious writeup. It in fact was a amusement account it. Look advanced to more added agreeable from you! By the way, how can we communicate?

it support April 1, 2011, 5:56 AM

Terrific work! That is the type of info that should be shared across the internet. Shame on Google for not positioning this put up upper! Come on over and discuss with my web site . Thank you =)

kubota tractors April 1, 2011, 1:30 PM

I haven’t checked in here for a while because I thought it was getting boring, but the last several posts are good quality so I guess I’ll add you back to my everyday bloglist. You deserve it friend :)

computer support April 1, 2011, 3:31 PM

I don’t even understand how I stopped up here, however I assumed this post used to be great. I don’t know who you might be however definitely you are going to a well-known blogger if you happen to are not already ;) Cheers!


Leave a reply:



(not displayed)

     




Avoid clicking "Post" more than once
Back to top >>
advertisement

featured gallery

Gwen Stefani and Family at the Park

momlogic tweets

recent activities