Autism Behavior Solutions
To formulate a complete hypothesis about the function of a tantrum , it may be useful to note the following points in a table :
� what exactly was the child doing a few minutes before the tantrum ?
� who was next to him / her ?
� what happened immediately before the child threw a tantrum ?
� where did the hysteria occur ?
� at what time did this happen ?
� how did others behave when the tantrum started , and what did they do when the child calmed down ?
For a child , a tantrum may have the following functions :
1 . Avoiding ( or getting rid of ) some unpleasant stimulus
2 . Getting what he / she wants 3 . Attracting attention
Before considering specific examples , I want to encourage readers to remember two basic rules :
1 . Act consistently
For example , if you refused to buy a chocolate bar in a store , and your child threw a tantrum in response , he / she should not receive the chocolate bar . behavior . Also , if you ask your child to do something , it must be done within the agreed time period .
2 . Ensure everyone in your child ’ s life is on the same page
Measures to prevent and handle a tantrum need to be carried out by all adults who spend time with the child . This adds to the aforementioned point regarding consistency . If your child knows grandma will still buy the chocolate bar in response to a tantrum , the behavior will be reinforced and it will continue , despite parents not giving in to tantrums anymore .
Now let ’ s talk about the functions of tantrums in more detail .
When tantrums occur because the child is using this behavior to get what he / she wants , the behavior , how it is handled , and the consequences may play out in different ways . Let ’ s explore some scenarios to see how tantrums may be motivated by a child ’ s desire to get what he / she wants :
A child on the playground sees someone else ’ s wonderful radio-controlled car . He tries to touch it , but the car goes so fast that it is impossible to catch up . After a couple of unsuccessful attempts , the child bursts into a full-blown tantrum .
It is natural to want to give our children what they desire , but giving in to tantrums will reinforce this negative behavior . Persevere in ignoring negative behavior and rewarding or reinforcing positive or desired
Measures to prevent and handle a tantrum need to be carried out by all adults who spend time with the child .