• Home
  • About
  • FREE Resource Library
  • Blog
  • Complete List of Products
  • Shop
    • My Account
    • My Downloads
    • My Cart
    • Checkout
  • Contact
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram

Special Needs for Special Kids

Providing you tools to save time and build confidence teaching students with the most significant disabilities

November 30, 2020

How to solve this common behavior problem

This week, I want to focus on the common behavior problem that occurs when the student is denied access to something tangible, like a toy, food, or other reinforcing items.  In my opinion, this can be the most dangerous and scary of the 4 types of common behaviors.  Perhaps it is because it is the one behavior I deal with daily with my own son who can get quite aggressive assertive when he cannot have something he wants.  When I was in my classroom, I also found this was the most common behavior problem that led to having to clear the room, or an incident report being filed (because an adult got injured.)  Here is the good great news:  I am awesome at figuring out how to manage this common behavior. 

At the end of this post, I have a free social story you can download, “That’s not Mine,” to help you deal with this issue.

There are 3 main strategies I use when I realize that a student is having a behavior because he/she wants access to something he/she currently does not have.  The sooner you recognize this function and take steps to intervene and develop more appropriate responses the better.  

1. Learning how to accept no

This is a critical skill that we often take for granted.  If you are a mom, or you had a mom, then you have probably heard, “Because I said so.”  Growing up, I never got a detailed, thought out explanation why I could not do something.  If the answer was “no,” then that was the end of the discussion.  I was not a kid who would throw a temper tantrum, but I was able to rationalize in my head why the answer was probably “no” and if that answer might change later.

Most of our students do not have that insight.  They hear “no”, and it can be like a trigger.  We call it a learned stimulus or discriminative stimulus (SD) in the behavior world. The cycle goes like this:

  1. The student hears “no”
  2. Student employs an explosive behavior
  3. Adults, in order to keep everyone safe, give the student what he/she wants
  4. Explosive behavior is reinforced
  5. The explosive behavior is tied to the word “no” through that positive reinforcement and will likely be used in the future when he hears that word again

See how easy that common behavior can happen and get accidentally reinforced?  Our intentions are only to keep everyone safe.  Even when we KNOW we are reinforcing this undesirable behavior; our backs are against the wall.  What else can we do?

Once you have identified this pattern and it is tied to the function of trying to gain access, you can start to strategically work on “un-linking” the word “no” and this behavior.  First, start setting up situations where it is easy or desirable for the student to accept “no.”  This takes some vigilance on your part.  Watch throughout the day for requests the student makes that may not be all that desirable.  I find students will request all the time to get out of something or to request something.  Sometimes, they do not even want that thing they are asking for.  If you can find these instances, then say “no” and if the student accepts it, even for just a second or two, then reinforce that behavior with specific language, “great job accepting no” and give them something tangible/reinforcing (just not the thing they were originally asking for.) 

I did this a lot in the classroom.  I also did it with students who were NOT having trouble accepting “no.” The student I was most concerned with, however, was watching, listening, and seeing his classmates receive praise and other tangibles for accepting “no.”  That started to sink in.

2. Learning to wait

Sometimes we can use the word “later” or “after this” instead of the word “no.”  This is a strategy I always tell new people working with my son, Jimmy.  The word “no” will evoke a negative behavior, but if you say “later” then Jimmy seems to be okay with that.  We use this strategy A LOT to deal with this common behavior problem!!  Here is the key, you must remember to deliver on your promise, and in a timely fashion.  It is best to use a clear time definition, like after we finish this puzzle, or after we read this book.  That way he knows approximately how long he will have to wait.  Before delivering on your promise, be sure to use that specific reinforcement.  Tell the student, “great job waiting, or great job waiting nicely.”  You HAVE to use that word waiting.  

What happens if the behavior erupts before you can deliver your promise?  Yep, that happens to me a lot with Jimmy.  (We currently have a waiting program running with him.)  Remind the student when they will receive the reinforcement.  Then try to hurry it up and get to that point before the behavior erupts again.  If that does not work, then change the condition.  Instead of “after the puzzle” say “after you give me a high five” (or some action that is easy for the student to do).  I wish it were an easy plug and play formula, but it is not.  

Take some data on this!!  How long can the student typically wait before the promise is delivered?  We started at just 20 seconds with Jimmy and are now only up to 45 seconds after a couple of weeks.  It takes time, especially if you have older kids who have a long history of being reinforced for negative behaviors.

3. Setting the environment up for success

So, this is my favorite of the three, and I am really good at it!!  You must know your students fairly well for this to work, but once you get it dialed in, you are gold!!  

Going back to my son, Jimmy, he is a big guy.  When he gets angry it can be dangerous.  Add to that, I almost always here alone with him (my husband travels, and Jimmy has scared off every worker I have had so far.)  So, for my safety and the safety of my property, I have been able to eliminate certain cues that will set off this common behavior.  I do not keep his favorite foods out where he can see them.  We have a very clearly defined day of the week we get to go to McDonald’s (this took some work.)  I use specific containers so he knows exactly how much of a certain food he will get, and no more.  And, we follow a strict routine.

You can easily set up your classroom, in the same way, to help minimize this common behavior problem.  If you have a student obsessed with a certain reinforcer, make sure it is not in view.  You may have to eliminate some reinforcers all together if it is just too hard for the student to give it up or be denied access to it. Use as many visual cues (if he is a visual learner) as you can to add structure and routine to your day.  And, the student comes in at the start of the day in an “off” mood, then be very, very choosy about what you say “no” to. If I can tell Jimmy is just “off” I try to make sure there are as few times as possible I have to say “no” that day.  I would rather him have an extra bowl of chips than say “no,” then have him attack me, and get the chips anyway. Luckily, these few times this has happened (2-3 times a month) does not seem to disrupt our normal patterns.   

Watch the video below on this common behavior problem

I would encourage you to watch the video below.  I think I do a better job relaying these points, and with more examples than I have space to do here.

Grab your free social story, That’s Not Mine by clicking the button below.


Just remember when dealing with this common behavior:

  1. Teach students how to accept “no”
  2. Teach students how to wait
  3. Set up your environment for success

If you missed the first in this series, be sure to check it out. It is about how to deal with escape behaviors, and there is a free checklist to download. CLICK HERE to read more.

child laying on the ground; a common behavior for escape

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Previous
Next

SHOP

Check out my resources

SHOP NOW

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram

Hi!

I'm Christa Joy

My mission is to give parents and teachers the tools they need in order to feel effective and confident teaching even the most challenging of students.
Read More

Join our Newsletter

Sign up for access to the free library!

New on the Blog

teaching tolerance free social stoyr

Teaching tolerance in the special ed classroom in 2021

52 Positive affirmations for the classroom in 2021

template for new year 2021

Learning a New Year 2021

Attention Seeking Behavior: Strategies for the classroom

My Shop

Complete curriculum units in math, ELA, science, social studies as well as social story units for students Pre-K through high school.

SHOP NOW

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram

Join our Newsletter

Sign up for access to the free library!

NEW UPLOADS!! I just added new downloads to my fre NEW UPLOADS!! I just added new downloads to my free resource library, including this one from this past free worksheet Wednesday. Also new (and perfect for winter): 🐧penguin sorting and ways to stay warm in the cold weather.❄️ The new downloads are listed at the top. Plus, there are a lot more for this time of year, including Color of Winter early reader book, snowflake matching, winter sudoku puzzle, winter scavenger hunt, and a nonfiction book on groundhogs. Check them all out here (if you need the password, I will put the link to sign up in the comments below): https://specialneedsforspecialkids.org/resource-library/
Did you get your free worksheet today? It is perf Did you get your free worksheet today? It is perfect for Martin Luther King day. Be sure to grab it here (digital link included): https://bit.ly/3oF0TxY #specialneedsforspecialkids #freeworksheetwednesday #distancelearning
Sneak peek at the worksheet coming your way tomorr Sneak peek at the worksheet coming your way tomorrow. If you are not on my Free Worksheet Wednesday list, then sign up here: https://christajoy.lpages.co/free-worksheet-wednesday-sign-up #specialneedsforspecialkids #freeworksheetwednesday #mlkday
Share with a teacher you know!!Teaching tolerance Share with a teacher you know!!Teaching tolerance in 2021. I updated this blog post and encourage you to revisit it and rethink your definition of tolerance. Meeting students where they are in a special education setting is so critical to building a foundation that will eventually grow not only into tolerance but the ultimate goal of inclusion and acceptance. Download this social story while you are there which is a great addition to your Martin Luther King Jr plans you may already have. Read more here and download you story: https://specialneedsforspecialkids.org/2020/01/13/teaching-tolerance-as-the-first-step-to-acceptance/
Compassion. It can be tough to feel compassion du Compassion. It can be tough to feel compassion during difficult times. We may feel confused and scared by the events of January 6, 2021. Embrace that fully. Feel it deeply. But then move on. Move on to something more powerful and healing. . Sending kindness and compassion into the world will only make it and you better. Accepting we may never understand why people act in certain ways, and feeling compassion regardless can be so powerful and healing. . As we start a new day, embrace, and fully feel what it is like to have compassion for others. Let go of the anger and the blame. We can be strong and resilient in our kindness and compassion towards others.
Did you get your free worksheet this morning? No Did you get your free worksheet this morning? No worries, you can still grab it here: https://bit.ly/3oh7zSX #specialneedsforspecialkids #freeworksheetwednesday #winteractivities
Wouldn't you like this FREE worksheet? It could b Wouldn't you like this FREE worksheet? It could be in your email tomorrow, Wednesday at 6:00am. . Just sign up here to get a free worksheet every Wednesday morning, rain or shine :). https://christajoy.lpages.co/free-worksheet-wednesday-sign-up #specialeducationclassroom #specialeducationteachers #specialedteacher
🙏 To the over 300 people who opted in for this 🙏 To the over 300 people who opted in for this freebie yesterday, thank you!!! I truly hope it starts your 2021 off in the best way. ✴️ In case you missed it, you can get all 52 positive affirmations for your students here: https://specialneedsforspecialkids.org/2020/12/28/52-positive-affirmations-for-the-classroom-in-2021/
Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2021 · Special Needs for Special Kids · Hello You Designs