| PART 1: BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT AND S.P.D. By Teri Allen, OTR/L Managing children's behavior is a challenge that all parents face! Life would be simpler if our children did what we wanted the first time we asked. But, healthy development is based on exploration, testing limits, and developing self control. Parents often face discipline dilemmas! There are multiple triggers for behavior challenges in children. Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) is one. Recognizing that a child is being difficult because he is hungry or tired seems less perplexing than recognizing atypical responses to sensory experiences. Children with SPD often are more emotional and sensitive. They may over or under react to common sensations, such as sounds or touch. They may seek excessive sensory input. They may struggle with motor planning, self calming, organization, following directions and/or succeeding with everyday tasks. (1) Once a child is diagnosed with SPD, parents often lose confidence in their ability to make disciplinary decisions. They fear they may unfairly punish their child for a behavior that is triggered by atypical sensory processing. They express guilt for the past, when they did not understand the source for their child's behaviors. The knowledge that a child has SPD provides important clues in how to discipline, but should not be an excuse to allow unacceptable behaviors. An example of how a parent could use this knowledge is with the child who is overly sensitive to sounds. Yelling, while reprimanding this child, is likely to escalate rather than reduce the behavior. An understanding whisper might be more effective! Despite the discipline dilemmas, behavior management is a critical responsibility of parenting. Developing self control and learning compliance with the rules of society are skills that will maximize a child's success in life, "but there's a catch - we have to teach them, a task that requires forethought, consistency, and a cool head. " (2) PART 2: EIGHT GREAT IDEAS How to manage those discipline dilemmas. |
Developing self control and learning to comply with the rules of society are skills that will maximize a child's success in life. |
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