Alcohol Related Birth Injury (FAS/FAE) Resource Site

Question #1:

I understand that most individuals affected by an Alcohol Related Birth Injury do not understand natural and logical consequences. What is the best way to manage behaviour?

Answer:

You are right! The effectiveness of many behaviour management strategies is lost on a child who does not understand cause and effect. It is important to remember there are actually three parts to a behaviour management plan:

The first is to prevent unwanted behaviours in the first place. We are familiar with how to accomplish this with toddlers when we remove breakable items from their reach. As normal children grow, we us this strategy less often as we feel the child must learn from their mistakes in order to avoid future difficulties. If "learning from your mistakes" is not available to individuals with ARBI, the behaviours do not change and we become more and more frustrated with our attempts to discipline. The first step then, in developing a behaviour plan is to remove, when possible, the opportunities for inappropriate behaviour. This means not leaving valuables around to tempt the child or placing the child in an unsupervised setting with smaller children or with children who might provoke unwanted behaviours.

The second part of the plan is to teach alternatives to the unwanted behaviours. Understanding the root of the behaviour as in non-competence rather than intentional non-compliance helps those around the child cope more successfully.

The third part of the plan is one we are all familiar with: applying consequences. They need not be severe but they must be immediate and certain. Learn to recognize warning signals of unwanted behaviours to come, and step in early. Positive emotional rewards work best and are often most effective when they are dramatic - vocal and heartfelt praise is always appreciated!

Question #2:

My child steals. What can I do about it?

Answer:

To children with Alcohol Related Birth Injuries, the concept of ownership is often vague and abstract. Preventing the behaviour is the best technique and supervision and re-direction are key. It is often easier to teach the child what is his, than what is not his.

Question #3:

How can I help my child establish sleeping and eating routines?

Answer:

Children with Alcohol Related Birth Injuries often fail to recognize when they are hungry or full or when they are tired or have had enough sleep. Consistency and bedtime rituals allow the child to make this difficult transition. Accept that the process will be slow and success will depend on effectively shaping the child's environment.

Over or under-eating has many causes. Large mealtime gatherings can be very distracting for these children. Offering the child a "head start" on the meal may mean they are able to take sufficient nutrition. Controlling the intake of the child who doesn't know when to stop is the role of the caregiver. Many affected children have problems chewing, swallowing and may present as a "sloppy" eater. Children who have come to you from a deprived environment may overeat in their efforts to fill an emotional void.