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by James M. Wesley
(James has a degree in elementary education and is currently a Therapeutic Support Specialist (TSS) with Community Alternatives in Butler, PA.  James works with a plethora of special needs children including kids with Autism Spectrum Disorders, Oppositional Disorder and ADHD.) 

Tips for children with Asperger’s Syndrome, High Functioning Autism, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, and Attention Deficit Hyper Activity Disorder

Household Rules 

• Sit down with your child and establish three household rules.  Make sure that you put a reward and a consequence beside each rule.  Parent(s) may even want to have the child create a visual for each household rule.  Having the child create a visual beside each household rule will allow them to recognize that they were a part of an important family activity.

• Example of a reward for following a household rule:  15 minutes of extra computer time

• Example of a consequence for not following a household rule:  child loses 15 minutes of computer time

Establish Daily Schedule

•  Establish a daily schedule with the child that he/she will follow everyday.  Make sure that the child participates in the creation of the schedule.  By doing this, parents can avoid potential arguments with a child about items on the schedule.  Have the child create a visual beside each item so it is reinforced.  It is important to place the schedule were the child will be able to see it.  For example, the schedule could be placed in the child’s bedroom, bathroom, or school binder.  Make sure that the schedule appears to be set for the entire family that way a child will not be embarrassed in front of his peers.

Example of a Daily Schedule: