tantrum, refusal on study activity or work, a learned behaviour
Dr Kondekars helps in understanding and tackling same. If an autistic child has learned to throw a tantrum whenever an activity is introduced, I would conceptualize the problem slightly differently from the “give me an object” situation. The child may have learned: ACTIVITY PRESENTED → TANTRUM → ADULT STOPS/DELAYS ACTIVITY → CHILD ESCAPES Over time, the child can learn that tantrum is an effective escape/avoidance communication. The therapeutic target is therefore not simply “stop tantrums.” It is: ACTIVITY → TOLERATE → START → COMPLETE A SMALL PART → SUCCESS → BREAK A practical protocol: 1. Start much smaller than the child can currently tolerate. Don't begin with a 20-minute task. Begin with perhaps 10–30 seconds or one very easy response. 2. Use a predictable signal. “First activity, then break.” A visual FIRST → THEN card can be useful. 3. Give the child a functional escape request. Teach one response such as “break,” “help,” “finished,” or a corresponding picture/AAC symbol. T...