Managing Behaviour

FASD Behaviours

• Children with FASD have permanent brain damage. This can lead to difficult behaviour including temper tantrums, hyperactivity, or difficulty paying attention.
• It’s important to remember that your child can’t “grow out of” the brain damage, but he or she can learn to cope with the condition.
• The most successful parenting techniques focus on addressing things that parents actually can change: learn to accommodate your child’s behaviour, instead of trying to change it.

Strategies

• Reward good behaviour: Praise your child for achievements. Give rewards immediately and explain why your child is receiving a reward.
• Look for strengths: Emphasize your child’s strengths and abilities as often as you can.
• Use a safe place: Give your child a place to calm down, express anger or frustration where he is not penalized for acting out. Create a phrase to cue your child to use this space, e.g., “Take space”.
• Be consistent: Use firm limits and clear consequences for all misbehaviour.
• Use simple rules: Rules should state the behaviour you want to see, e.g., “Keep hands to self” rather than “Don’t touch”.

For a printable tip sheet of this information, click here.