Promoting Positive Behaviour

Your loved one may express their emotions and behave in a way that could be harmful to themselves or others. For instance, they may express anger through physical aggression such as banging their head or hitting others. They may also show repetitive behaviours such as rocking or hand flapping to convey their discomfort. These behaviours often arise in response to triggers experienced (e.g., sudden changes in routine, sensory disturbances) or needs that your loved one may not be able to otherwise express e.g., hunger or pain.

In exploring your loved one’s triggers, it would be helpful to keep in mind their usual preferences and unique behaviour patterns¹. You can also track your observations of the events leading up to the display of their challenging behaviours to identify common patterns and possible triggers². Discussing such observations with professionals may also help as it is likely they have experiences in dealing with similar cases.

Professionals such as occupational therapists can help you in identifying and addressing behaviour that is sensory-related. Understanding the reasons for your loved one’s behaviour will help you pre-empt these triggers and find ways to overcome them. For example, you can teach your loved one techniques like counting down, focusing on deep breathing and using stress balls to self-regulate. Additionally, exposing them to alternative modes of communication may help to reduce their frustration and challenging behaviour.

As your loved one learns to manage their behaviour better, you can encourage them with praises and words of affirmation.

To further help you in this process, you can:

• Attend caregiver trainings such as Signpost for Building Better Behaviour programme. These are offered by KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, schools and social service agencies such as Fei Yue Community Services.
• Participate in caregiver support programmes such as Family Empowerment Programme (FEP).
• Reach out to professionals like social workers, psychologists, or teachers who are supporting your loved one.
• Consult psychologists who are trained in Positive Behaviour Support³ and can help you put this approach into practice.