Aggressive Behaviors;
Becoming a Detective
Working with
Aiden has helped me become a better detective at figuring out what his
behaviors are telling me about how he feels in a given moment. I know, in my
head, when he grabs aggressively or hits me, to silently turn away and give him
space. If I’m physically close to him, I
become an easier target for him to use to vent his feelings of anger,
frustration and/or anxiety. During these
times, I may forget and respond with words, such as, “where are your hands
supposed to be”?
While he’s
calming down, I’m reviewing the last interactions in my mind, looking for the
triggers of his aggressiveness. How
could I have behaved differently? What was his behavior telling me?
·
His
anxiety and frustration were higher, noted by his facial expressions. I could
have changed the subject and done something more spontaneous and playful with
him through song or rhyming words.
·
I
could have checked for this feelings and anxiety level before beginning the
lesson.
·
I
need to remember to stand behind me to the side to protect myself more
efficiently when he’s upset.
·
Whenever
he’s upset, remember to back away silently for a few seconds. Then, I can ask
him if going to his quiet place would help him calm down. If he says yes, then he’s back in the
thinking part of his brain. I give him
that time and space. He’s getting better at calming himself down when he’s
alone.
·
If
he grabs me, I usually freeze, turning away from him slightly. After a few
moments of my silence, he usually lets go and we move forward.
I gladly welcome
any comments about what I could have done differently or any other ideas on how
to help Aiden feel less anxious in the future.
No comments:
Post a Comment