Understanding Autism and Hitting
Hitting is a common behavior challenge in children with autism, often occurring at home and school. While every child is different, hitting is usually a way to communicate frustration, escape from overwhelming situations, or gain attention. By understanding the root cause, parents and teachers can create strategies to prevent and address aggression effectively.
Assessing Autism and Hitting Behavior
Before implementing a solution, it’s essential to assess when, where, and why hitting occurs. Ask yourself:
How often does the child hit?
Who or what is the child hitting? (Self, peers, parents, teachers, objects)
What triggers the behavior? (Demands, sensory overload, boredom, transitions)
When does the child not hit? (Engaged in preferred activities, well-regulated, structured environments)
This assessment helps in developing an effective plan to prevent and manage hitting.
We also want to assess their language, self help and other problem behaviors using this easy 10 minute Barbera Early Childhood Assessment ™
Preventing Hitting in Children with Autism
Prevention is the key to reducing hitting incidents. Experts suggest spending 95% of your efforts on prevention and only 5% on reacting to hitting.
1. Create a Predictable Environment
Children with autism thrive on routine and structure. At home and school:
Use visuals and have reinforcement ready to prepare for transitions. Get your free 5 step to ease transitions guide here.
Provide clear expectations and social stories about behavior.
Maintain a calm, structured environment to reduce anxiety.
2. Reinforce Positive Behavior
Instead of focusing on the negative, highlight what your child is doing well.
Praise good behavior immediately: “Great job using gentle hands!”
Offer tangible reinforcers (stickers, tokens, favorite activities) for positive interactions.
Model appropriate behaviors, such as high-fives instead of hitting or be ready to prompt the appropriate language and behaviors they can engage in.
3. Keep Your Child Engaged
Boredom and lack of stimulation can lead to problem behaviors.
Provide structured playtime with engaging activities.
- Learn how to engage children at a table to build language and other play skills.
Introduce sensory-friendly activities to regulate emotions.
Encourage independent play with safe items while ensuring supervision.
4. Teach Alternative Communication Skills
Many children with autism hit because they lack the words or skills to express frustration. They may also be in pain, and not able to communicate this. I teach how to improve communication within my online courses.
Teach simple words, phrases, sign language or use communication devices for children with speech delays.
- Teach body parts in order to help children be able to show you where it hurts.
Use sign language or gestures for children who struggle with verbal communication.
5. Avoid Common Triggers
When you complete your assessment of hitting or other behaviors, you likely will notice triggers that happen before the behavior. By knowing these, we can work to prevent the issue.
Identifying and minimizing common triggers can significantly reduce aggression.
If sensory overload is an issue, provide noise-canceling headphones or a quiet break area prior to problem behavior occuring.
For transitions,ensure you are not going from a highly preferred item or activity to low preferred. Dangle the carrot and offer something exciting before presenting the transitions. You can also try to give countdown warnings (“In 5 minutes, it’s time to leave”).
Teach children how to wait and accept no, and use desensitization strategies to reduce common triggers.
- Take children to a doctor to check for injuries or pain. Teach children body parts to start helping them identify pain.
