As children grow, they constantly test the boundaries of acceptable and unacceptable behavior. Special-needs children, who may be easily over-stimulated or agitated by their surroundings, are in even greater need of structure and a controlled environment. As a parent, you can help dramatically decrease your child’s outbursts, tantrums, and other difficult behaviors by taking charge of the physical surroundings in your home.
1. Create a “free play” space for your child. Find a safe place in your home that you can set apart as your child’s free territory to explore. Put down a child-friendly carpet to help designate the area and protect your floor. Set–up a small table for simple art projects. Find a safe toy chest. Remove any “no no” items or objects.
2. Make your child’s bedtime space calm, quiet, and distraction free. Remove excessive toys from your child’s sleeping area. Clear away clutter. Keep paint colors in the bedroom soothing and mild. Provide a source of tranquil music. Have a few of your child’s favorite bedtime books and a comfort object, such as a stuffed animal or cozy blanket, close by.
3. Adapt items in your home to minimize frustration. Use unbreakable dishes, lower coat racks, buy clothes for your child that are easily to put on, use stepping stools for sinks, buy child-friendly toilets, relocate valuable items. Cover outlets and use other child-safety devices to lock cabinets or drawers. Have plenty of clean-up products (baby wipes are good for all sorts of things) easily accessible.
4. Structure the environment. Your child needs to understand what is expected of him in each area of the house. Establish a few simple rules that he can learn. “This is your play space,” “Quiet voice at bedtime,” “Food stays in the kitchen,” and “No jumping on furniture,” etc. Have a simple, predictable consequence when rules are broken, such as sitting on a “think time” chair. Provide a warning signal that your child recognizes… such as a raised hand, picture of a stop sign, pointing to a behavior chart, etc, to remind your child of the impending consequence.
5. Maintain your own private space. Have an off-limits area (like a bed and chair in your room) where your child does not play. Lock or gate it from your child’s access. Keep this area clean, bright, and tranquil. Have books or music readily available. Take advantage of your child’s bed or school time to take a break and relax in this space.
By minimizing chaos, organizing clutter, and adding structure to your home environment, your child’s behavior will be more manageable. Take time to set-up your surroundings so that they will foster a positive relationship between you and your child.