Arousal and Behavioral Regulation in Children with Autism

Arousal and Behavioral Regulation in Children with Autism

Problematic emotional behavior as expressed in tantrums, irritability, aggression, self-injury, anxiety, and impulsivity is often seen in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD).  The Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders published research comparing the physiological arousal and behavioral regulation of emotion in the context of frustration in 29 children with ASD and 45 typically developing children (41–81 months).  The researchers monitored each participants heart rate continuously and emotion strategies were coded, during a locked-box task.

The results indicated the following:

• heart rate monitoring showed increases in arousal followed by a decline during recovery in both groups
• heart rate patterns between groups were identical
• children with ASD used less constructive and more venting and avoidance strategies, which was related to language impairments

The researchers concluded that young children with ASD may not have abnormal levels of emotional arousal, but perhaps difficulties in behaviorally regulating and expressing experienced emotions to others.

Reference:  Zantinge, G., van Rijn, S., Stockmann, L., & Swaab, H. (2017). Physiological Arousal and Emotion Regulation Strategies in Young Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 1-10.

Visual Supports: Schedules, Self-Regulation, & Classroom Inclusion – Designed by aschool-based Occupational Therapist, Thia Triggs, this color-coded visual support system is suitable for your children with autism, emotional behavioral disturbance, intellectual disabilities, ADHD, communication disabilities, and more.  Pictures are cute, engaging, and easy for children to understand. Visual supports for self-regulation can be pivotal in implementing an IEP in the least restrictive environment. This digital download includes 283 visuals. FIND OUT MORE.

The post Arousal and Behavioral Regulation in Children with Autism appeared first on Your Therapy Source.

Emotions Freebie – Calming Down and I Feel Happy

These two activities from the Emotions Packet encourage various visual motor skills, fine motor skills, handwriting and sensory input to help children express and understand emotions.  The first activity page, I FEEL HAPPY, the child has to draw a happy face, circle all of the happy faces, draw things that make the child feel happy and write when the child feels happy.  The second activity page helps the child to calm down.  The child can take a deep breath, roll a small piece of play dough into a ball, place it on a number and squash the play dough.  Repeat ten times.  Both of the activities are from the Emotions packet.

Download the Emotions packet freebie here.

Emotions Packet: This Emotions Packet includes 5 activities that encourage fine motor skills, copying, visual motor skills and finger strengthening: Emotion match up, One Big Family, Cool Your Emotions, Smash the Emotion and Match the Emotions. The worksheets explore 10 different feelings by drawing and writing about feelings.  FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION

The post Emotions Freebie – Calming Down and I Feel Happy appeared first on Your Therapy Source.

Practice Self Regulation and Visual Motor Skills - Emotion Freebies

Here is a great freebie from the Emotions Packet.  Practice fine motor, visual motor and self regulation skills with these freebies.  Download them here http://yourtherapysource.com/emotionsfreebie

6 Tips to Support the Emotional Development of Children Through Active Play

As therapists, we frequently provide physical activities for children to promote muscle strengthening, range of motion, balance, motor skills and coordination. We must not forget that physical activity also helps to boost the social and emotional health of children. Physical, active play can help children to:

• express emotions such as smiling and laughing
• negotiate with peers during games such as turn taking, establishing rules of games, etc
• reduce stress
• elevate the mood
• establish feelings of pride and accomplishment by achieving goals such as climbing equipment or running around a track

Therapists can offer suggestions to parents and teachers on how to support the emotional development of children through play. Here are some helpful tips to suggest:

1. Observe the children and see what they enjoy playing. Create more opportunities for what they enjoy.
2. Recommend “just right” activities for the children. Provide teachers and parents with a list of activities that the children can accomplish to help boost feelings of self worth. Perhaps provide some activities that may be a challenge so that children can have a sense of accomplishment of pushing themselves to achieve more.
3. Praise children when they achieve new motor tasks or skills.
4. Add emotions to make believe active play i.e. be a silly troll, a happy princess or a miserable witch
5. Offer some activity ideas that all children can participate in regardless of motor skill to encourage peer interaction. This will help some children to focus on the social aspects of play without having to struggle with motor skills.
6. Keep children motivated and engaged. If certain activities are not encouraging active play, change it up to make it more active. Add more loose parts to play such as balls and hula hoops rather than relying on playground equipment to get children moving.

Physically active play can help children to become more confident, develop self control and support emotional health.

Reference: Dr. Jeffrey Trawick-Smith and Julia DeLapp. Moving With Feeling Nurturing Preschool Children’s Emotional Health Through Active Play. Brief developed by the Center for Early Childhood Education at Eastern Connecticut State University for Head Start Body Start. Retrieved from the web on 9/20/11 at http://www.aahperd.org/headstartbodystart/activityresources/upload/Moving-with-Feeling-brief-final.pdf

Feelings Activities – Find out more at http://yourtherapysource.com/feelings.html