1. Recently, my younger daughter, who is diagnosed with global developmental delays, began hitting my son (he is 4 years older than she is) during play. My son (normally developing) is sensitive to my daughter's diangnosis and just puts up with it. I am torn--I don't think he should have to tolerate that behavior from her but I also don't want them fighting constantly with the possibility of one of them getting hurt. What do you suggest?
   
   The question is what is the function of her hitting? Try to determine when/why she is hitting her brother: is it as a game, is she trying to request an item he has, is it when he is doing something without her and she wants to join? You can take simple notes about what happens before she hits and then what happens right after she hits. Hopefully you will see a pattern. Then teach your son to prompt her to use language to communicate what she wants/needs rather than her hands. Language can include various forms. Depending on your daughter's ability, it could be with vocal language, PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System), sign language, and/or gestures. You want to address this behavior before she generalizes it to other people. Good luck!
   
   
   
2. Whenever I am shuttling my son in between his therapy appointments, he throws himself on the ground (outside--sometimes in the middle of the street) and refuses to get up. My ABA therapist has explained to me that he has difficulty "transitioning" and I am glad there is a term for describing what is happening, but I don't know how to stop it. I have tried to take away things he really likes and I have tried to bribe him--both have worked only sometimes. I am so tired of having people stare at me and my son on the street—help!
   
   If he is having a hard time transitioning between locations you need to provide him with a tool to help him understand where he is going and what is happening. One tool I have had great success with is an activity schedule. You take photographs of all the places you go and each day create a schedule with your son. Make it portable so it can travel with you and be used during each transition. He could even hold onto the picture of the next location/activity, if it helps him. The nice thing about this is that you can gradually decrease the size of the pictures. Eventually it can be transitioned to a planner/calendar, similar to the daily schedules most of us use to keep track of our various daily events. There are several different techniques to help with transitioning; I hope this one works for you.

If you have any questions you'd like Marcie to answer, please send them to nicole@therapyscoop.com

** Remember **
All children are unique and any suggestions provided should be discussed with the professionals who know your child best to ensure appropriateness and effectiveness. There are countless factors that influence any behavior, please take that into account when implementing any behavioral intervention.