Hello My 2 1/2 year old autistic son is very mean to his 1 1/2 yr old brother. Even when hes not tantruming or for any reason he will run up to him and push him down. It really hurts the babys feelings and hes becomming afraid of him and I dont want that.
I really think my Autistic son Kedan doesnt understand these things nothing works with him. Times outs,spaking and just telling him to be nice. what else can I do?

Well, I'm pretty new to all of this from a parent view, but I know that in my school (I'm a teacher), the way we help autistic kids deal with social issues is often through social stories. There are lots of books available about the use of pictures in social stories to teach autistic kids stuff. You may want to do a search for them.

I'd also recommend talking to the E.I. people (I'm assuming he's getting services) about help in this area.

And...watch your son and see if there is a "trigger" that sets him off being aggressive toward the baby. If so, it seems as though you could detect that and stop the behavior before it happens.

I know your son is young, but I read about aggressive behavior and using a hippity hop ball to get the aggression out. I have a sheet that was given to me by my sons Occupational Therapist with information about Sensory issues. It says:

Hippity Hop Balls

You can use two ramps that fasten together at right angles and let the children hop up one, cross to the platform of the second ramp and hop down. After about 10-15 trips, it takes all the "aggressiveness" out of them for the whole day.


I saved this info because I thought it may be helpful for me down the road. My son is almost 2 1/2 but not coordinated enough to handle this task. Fortunately he's not usually aggressive but I thought this was good info to keep on hand.

I think that the therapy ball may work with younger kids. My son loves bouncing on it. Maybe you could use the therapy ball bouncing him through 10 rounds of the alphabet, or counting to 25 .

Hope this info is helpful

Thanks for the replys. Its hard as far as knowing when and what will trigger his meaness cause sometimes its for no reason at all.

As for the ball thing it would be great if he couls bounce on a ball but not likely hes really behind on those motor skills. Hes just now learning to kick a ball. thanks for the advise.

Have you considered buying a therapy ball that you hold him on it and bounce him? I truly believe the therapy ball has helped my son with his motor skills. Does your son have an Occupational Therapist?

Hi. Ive never heard of this ball. He is just starting EI. I will ask them this week when they come about the ball. thanks

I wonder if he's really intending to be "mean" or "aggressive."

If he's autistic and doesn't have better ways to make sense of the world it could be that he's seeing the baby do something that upsets his sense of order. And he's just trying to make things "right" the best way he knows how.

Maybe the younger brother is standing (or trying to) and that is frightening. Maybe the younger brother is making a noise that's uncomfortable. Maybe there's an odor that troubles him.

I guess my point is that we tend to interpret behavior through our own experience (if it looks mean or aggressive it must be mean or aggressive) instead of through the eyes of autism.

SNUTTAN ~ Ive actually never thought of it that way. you could be totally right