How To Manage Challenging Behavior In Kids And Adults With Special Needs
You may be caring for someone with special needs for several reasons. You may already be or are hoping to become a service provider that takes care of individuals with special needs. Or, you may have a relative or loved one with special needs, and you’d like to take better care of them. Regardless, know that you’re not alone, and your challenges may be remedied or improved through specific practices.
One prime example of a challenge you may face is challenging behavior, which is common amongst adults and children with special needs. They may exhibit challenging behaviors: temper tantrums, stereotypies, impulsivity, mood swings, aggression, self-harm, and more.
Furthermore, managing challenging behavior in individuals with special needs may require a different approach for several reasons, such as the following:
- They can’t easily communicate their needs
- They express themselves differently
- They may have unique triggers
- They understand things differently
Besides reading to learn how to give better care, you may also consider taking MAPA training to know the best practices in caregiving for people with special needs. Having said that, if you wish to take better care of them and learn how to manage their challenging behaviors, here’s a guide that may help:
Be Patient And Learn How To Communicate With Them
The first step to managing challenging behavior in kids and adults with special needs is to be patient and learn how to communicate with them.
It’s worth remembering that balancing objectivity and caring must be a priority in supporting individuals with special needs and challenging behaviors. Often the source of their challenging behaviors is their disabilities or ailments. Remembering this during frustrating circumstances may teach you to be more patient with them. It may also help to do some breathing exercises and improve your stress management techniques.
Furthermore, as they might have unique triggers and ways of expressing and understanding themselves, you must consider learning how to communicate with them. How you might interact with one person may not work with another. As such, speaking their language may help improve how you address their challenging behaviors.
Once you can communicate well with them, you may better understand the cause of their challenging behaviors, such as unmet needs. It may also improve your way of expressing that what they’re doing is wrong.
Reflect And Journal Their Behavior
Next, consider reflecting and journaling about your encounters with challenging behaviors. Doing so may aid you in tracking and measuring the success of your methods in addressing these challenging behaviors, which includes both your mistakes and what you’re doing right. It may also help you better understand challenging behaviors, such as how frequently they occur and their sources. Overall, it’s a great way to improve the way you address these challenging behaviors.
Control Stimulus And Reinforcement
Afterward, consider regulating stimulus and reinforcement that often help trigger both their positive and challenging behaviors. These stimuli and reinforcements can be objects, events, or situations that cause and encourage the maintained practice of these challenging behaviors.
To manage challenging behaviors, consider taking away anything that may trigger these behaviors. However, these stimuli and reinforcements may not be in your control.
In such situations, consider giving time out from things that they enjoy. For instance, if they watch too much TV, you may consider turning the TV off at certain hours. You may also utilize coping mechanisms such as exercise which may aid in releasing built-up stress. This method will teach them to regulate their emotions and feel a sense of control in situations wherein certain stimuli are beyond our control.
Take Care Of Yourself
Often, when you react poorly to a stressful scenario, it may result from exhaustion or another source of frustration. Unfortunately, when caring for someone with special needs and challenging behavior, you’ll need to prepare to deal with a stressful situation. Doing so will enable you to think soundly and keep a level head.
As such, the final and crucial step to managing challenging behavior in children and adults with special needs is to take proper care of yourself. This may include setting aside time to participate in activities you enjoy and getting enough rest. It may also include eating suitable meals with the correct amount of nutrients to remain healthy amidst stress.
Conclusion
Caring for someone with special needs can have its challenges. For instance, they may exhibit challenging behaviors because they communicate and understand things differently. Moreover, challenging behaviors must be addressed as these can negatively impact their quality of life and even result in self-harm.
Fortunately, these behaviors can be managed using the correct methods. Hopefully, this article has aided you in learning how to handle challenging behavior in kids and adults with special needs.
