I Have a Behaviorally Challeneged Child...Help?!

If you read our Facebook you know that I work at a facility that helps children and adults with behavioral challenges stemming from disorders, such as ASD, PDD, etc etc.

So your child has behavior problems? Don't worry! There are resources, facilities, and many people more than happy to help you!

Here you will find a great resource from Autism Speaks!
Note: You do have to register and it is a downloadable PDF. Registration is free!

If you keep scrolling down on this website it talks about many different topics regarding behavior and what it may stem from!

If you feel you can no longer safely or effectively manage your child and their behaviors I would encourage you to research facilities. Maybe you just know that you are not the best teacher for the job?

I personally know and recommend  Chileda Institute. I can honestly say, as a caregiver, that most of us love your kids just as much as you do, and are sad to see them go.

We get attached! Please don't feel sad/embarrassed that you are no longer able to cope/deal with your child's behavior! It takes a strong person to admit and want something better for their child!




Brats...Not The Kind You Eat

Recently an event occurred that made me reflect on a few things.

 

Someone was offended by a comment I made saying some kids really ARE brats. Not saying all of them are and it varied from child to child.

It wasn't geared at behavior kids or 'normal' kids.

 

Some kids, no matter what diagnosis they have, ARE brats!

 

Offended? Just wait a minute there and let me explain.

 

Children are children, no matter the diagnosis. If they know that when they act a certain way and you give into what they want; chances are the child will do it again....and again....and again.....and again. It would be a never ending process.

 

Since I am around spectrum kids daily I would like to focus on them being 'brats' in this entry.

 

I am imagining a lot of you are very slamming your fists down, yelling for your other half, or something equally outrageous in response to what I have just said above.

 

There are higher functioning autistic kids who know that when they throw a fit, whine, cry, or scream loudly when you tell them 'no' they will get what they are after.

This would be called 'rewarding the behavior'. I have some students who refuse to eat breakfast because at home they threw a fit when mom/dad said 'no' to having ice cream for breakfast, they magically get ice cream for breakfast.

 

Sorry kid, this is the real world, you can have these cereal options, toast, or oatmeal.

[insert hour long cry session here]

 

They lash out physically when they don't get the reaction they want to the crying.

 

This people would be called a brat. Totally parent created, just like in a 'normal' child.

 

I know kids who will get $50 toys they play with once every time they go to walmart. Why? Mom and Dad hear everyone tsking when their child screams and cries.

 

Ever heard of just leaving and sitting in the car until your child is calm, then explain why we can't get a toy this trip?

 

I don't know how your finances are but around here $50 twice or more a week would break my bank!

 

The first few tries/months of this may be hard but I assure you, it is worth it in the end just to NOT give in to the child, normal or not.

 

Remember: What may be cute and manageable when they are little won't be so cute when they are 25!

 

Food for thought!

 



Why Did I Choose This?

If you follow our Facebook you will know that I read and shared an article by Autism Daddy.

His most recent blog post listed 11 Benefits of Autism.

 

#7 is a thank you to care-takers, teachers, aids, etc.

 

This brings up this post. Why did I choose to work with Autistic children? Not just ASD but other severe psychological disorders? On top of the disorders they have EXTREME behavior issues.

 

Why?

 

This is probably the nicest one I have ever gotten outta my favorite student (yes I have a favorite!). She would dig her nails into your wrist..I had much worse than this and once had someone asked me if I was a cutter!

This again is from my favorite student. This is when it had partially healed. She got me in the face out of the blue (we were decreasing her med so we could clean her system out for a new med), broke my glasses and the screw of the glasses went all the way through the skin, to the bone, and out the lower cut. I actually had no idea I was bleeding profusely from my face until someone said something.

 

 

Some may ask, why is she your favorite if she is so violent? Why is your favorite not the one who just paints with poop? 

 

Don't get me wrong, I adore all my students. Let's call Favorite student A.

 

A is an AMAZING girl who just happened to have sh*tty birth parents with a side of crazy adoptive parents. She was only like this as a product of OTHER humans.

 

I work with them all because they deserve someone who loves them unconditionally. Someone who isn't there to give up. I signed up for getting hit in the face, getting my nose broke, being pooped on.

 

I CHOSE this because I want them to be able to learn to their highest ability.

I CHOSE this because they deserve someone who can keep their temper in check.

I CHOSE this because my students need a voice. A voice who will advocate for them no matter what others may think is 'right' for them.

I CHOSE this because I love seeing them achieve the smallest thing, like rinsing out their breakfast bowl.

I CHOSE this because they deserve to be treated the same as any child their age.

I CHOSE this because I love it.  

 

 



Bacon Cakes

Okay so I found this "helpful life tips" blurp online the other day.

 

A few made GREAT sense...

 

Example: Bacon Cakes

 

I made these things tonight for dinner and YUMM!!!!!

 

 

Step one: Cook Bacon

Step 2: Drain Bacon, blot with paper towel

 Step 3: Make batter; Pour Syrup in to taste.

 

Step 4: For easy pourage of the batter you can funnel it into a soda bottle, ketchup bottle, etc

Step 5: Pour pancake batter into long strips; lay bacon on top. Flip when ready.

Have an eater that is stuck on round pancakes? No problem! Make silver dollar pancakes and break the bacon into pieces.

Step 6: Eat!!

 

No syrup required. These are great for when you have to leave quickly in the morning. Just put them in a baggy, pack some napkins and a juice box and TAH DAH! Breakfast on the go!

 

~Musings Of a Care Giver



Social Stories: A How To

I promised you all a little blurp on how to write social stories on our Facebook page.

 

 

First determine the behavior you would like to create or change:

 

Select only one behavior per social story.

Stories should be written in a first person, "When I walk indoors I need to use my inside voice."

For some children it might help to put a photo or drawing of the event.

 

Describe:

 

If you are using social stories to help with a situation that your child may find difficult:

Include a description of the child's behavior and description of the desired behavior.

Example:

“When I walk into a library the room is quiet. I feel nervous because I have left a room where I feel comfortable and safe. Sometimes I feel exited when in the library and yell. When I yell, I like the sound my voice makes and I feel good. I can yell on the play ground. In the library I need to use my quiet voice."

 

Sometimes a child may be confused as to why it is okay to yell elsewhere but not at in the library. You can describe why it is unacceptable to yell inside.

 

Example:

"When I yell it bothers other people in the library. My yelling makes it hard for people to work in the library. "

 

End the story with a description of desired behavior:

 

Example:

 

"When I go into the library I will not yell. I will find a book to check out. After I find a book I will sit and read until library time is over. When I do not yell in the library it makes my teacher and friends happy."

 

All together it will read like this:

“When I walk into a library the room is quiet. I feel nervous because I have left a room where I feel comfortable and safe. Sometimes I feel exited when in the library and yell. When I yell, I like the sound my voice makes and I feel good. I can yell on the play ground. In the library I need to use my quiet voice. When I yell it bothers other people in the library. My yelling makes it hard for people to work in the library.

 

 

If you have any questions please feel free to ask me on our Facebook page!



Our Mission

If you have found us here you have most likely found us through our Facebook page!

 

 

This page was created so that we could share information with you that would take up to much space on a status update.

 

 

 

I hope to bring you lots of useful information you can use to make your child's life easier as well as yours.

 

Who knows, I may even bring you controversial items and anything else that seems to fit into our genre.