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Hi, my name is Gina and I'm working as a Behavioural Support Practitioner with adults with learning disabilities, autism and challenging behaviours in the NHS. My role involves conducting functional assessment and analysis of challenging behaviour, devising positive behaviour support plans, training staff teams and carers and - the most important for me - challenging bad practice and advocating for the people that are a challenge for their system. I hope to be able to offer general advice drawn from my experience. I can help you with questions you might have about behaviours seen as challenging, as well as ways to manage them using positive behaviour support strategies

My son is going through a dreadful stage at the moment. If he's rejected in the park (by other children he wants to play with), or challenged in some way he is shouting 'idiot', or 'i will kick you/kill you'. I have no idea where this is coming from. If I also say no to something he kicks off and has a huge meltdown. I try to speak calmly to him but that doesn't work. Any ideas please? he is 6, developmentally around 4 years old. Thanks!

Hi jdodgeon, what exactly is the young man doing to get this person's attention? The general advice we give is, if you know what person wants just give it to him without having to display the behaviour. For instance you can schedule some 1:1 time with him and remind him that he's gonna have a chat with you soon. The use of a picture/symbol for 1:1 time, as well as a visual timetable so that he knows when this time comes will help!

Hi, my son, Ben, who is 16 is on the autistic spectrum as well as being a special needs child. Ben has language and can have a conversation with another person, though his language is limited. Ben is verbally repetitive and can repeat words or sentences for up to 10 minutes when conversing with another person. He targets his mother and it can become quite distressing. One thing which doesn't help is the ambiguous language which is used when Ben requests something. Rather than a yes or no there are occasions when my wife says maybe or might be. This results in Ben repeating these phrases if he doesn't get the answer he wants. There are occasions when he doesn't accept no as an answer and it can be very difficult to stop him repeating. On these occasions he will use the ambiguous language and we have to still tell him no. It develops into an argument between Ben and my wife. Any help would be welcome, for Ben and for us, thank you, Danny.

Hi,

I just want to thank you all for the warm welcome!

--> Jdodgeon: pass this info on to the staff and let me know what they think and how it goes

-->NicolaP: although he is quite young it might be a quite good time to start some work around emotions with him. Have you ever used a social story? Some children find it hard to express their emotions, especially when it comes to anger or frustration. Maybe use some simple pictures and try to label them with him. Use some of the examples of his everyday life and teach him alternative ways to cope with them. I'm aware is not as simple as it sounds!! Does he get any support at school about that?

--> Geryon: I need to be honest, I'm not very familiar with children's assessment tools. Having a quick look at it, teachers use it to understand pupils' behaviours and sometimes, underlying anxiety issues. I think I'd probably be curious and open with the psychologist/teacher who administered that, questioning the reason why they did , but also what's next. Sometimes these tools identify strengths and help professionals and carers to design interventions and come up with creative ideas, tailored to the person's needs.