Autism

[nclrvr]

I am a mother with a 5 year old boy with Autism His father and I tend to disagree with when it comes to handling outbursts/tantrums. My son has begun this need to bandage all parts of his body when he injures them, whether they need bandages or not. He goes through so many band-aids. I usually let him get the band-aids or I try to distract him. His dad just wants to let him cry and ride it out but as other parents with children with Autism know, when our children become fixated on something they will become very desperate for the item. Does anyone know what is the appropriate action to take, do I give in, try to compromise, or not give it to him?

[mjackson]

I have a 6 year old with asperger's... I have found with him, instead of just stopping something he wants, over a period of time move his interest to something similiar but different. Using your example, with my son I would give him a bandaid when he wants one but then I would start working in a sticker here and there (even as a reward or at times when he does not ask for it). With him it lessens the interest in the bandaid because now instead of just bandaids he now likes both. It becomes harder to obsess at the same level, when he likes both. And with the stickers... I would talk about what is on the stickers... this helps his communication, takes attention away from the sticker, and adds 1 more thing that he likes. I hope this helps. It is crazy because everyone is so different and different things work for different people.