Consistency and discipline are necessary for any child but can be critical for a child with autism or an autism spectrum disorder. As many as one in 110 children has been diagnosed with this neurological disorder, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The right discipline strategy and behavior management depend upon your child's personality, abilities and needs. Patience, love and cooperation are all essential to disciplining a child with autism.
Communication
Children with autism have difficulty reading social cues and may struggle with both verbal and non-verbal language, according to Bright Tots. Giving your child instructions in clear, literal terms may help. Provide your child with information in multiple ways. Use spoken words, gestures and pictures to help your child understand your expectations and allow him to form a clearer understanding of the world around him.
Socialization
Teaching social skills requires additional effort if you have an autistic child. Your child likely has a hard time understanding social rules and nuances, such as facial expressions, according to Bright Tots. Consider using social stories that describe scenarios to help her act appropriately and reduce problematic behaviors. If you teach appropriate behaviors, you will find, with time and patience, your child's behavior in social scenarios can improve.
Routine
Routine is key to creating a happy and calm child, but this is especially so if your child has autism. Use picture schedules to show what happens when and stick to clearly defined routines for meals, mornings and bedtimes. Allow plenty of time for transitions, and give warnings your child can understand to reduce the possibility of upset or tantrums. You may even want to prepare your child for outings in similar ways, suggests Supernanny.
Positive Motivation
Rewards systems, praise, incentives and even bribery are all effective ways to encourage a child with autism to behave in the ways you prefer. Give rewards or mark a reward chart immediately to help reinforce the connection, according to Supernanny. Make an effort to catch your child being good or following instructions well, suggests Bright Tots.
Safety
Safety can be an especially challenging issue for parents of children with autism. Depending upon your child's age and understanding, close supervision may be key. Use a variety of communication strategies to help him understand the importance of safety instructions. If you have a night waking child, gates and corner padding may be necessary, recommends Supernanny.
Tantrums and Rage
Managing tantrums and rage can be especially challenging. Identifying possible triggers, including food, lighting or noises, can help reduce these challenges. You may need to remove a child from a situation to avoid potential injury. Some families opt to create a safe space for their child with foam bats, beanbag chairs or even a punching bag, according to O'Reilly and Associates.
