Strategies/Suggestions

Behavior Management

• Have a behavior management plan in place that addresses aggression toward self or others
  
• Use consistent behavior management
  
• Provide guidance in controlling impulsivity
  
• Use consistent reinforcers
  
• Use stern voice/affect to convey displeasure; be firm
  
• Don’t let frustration escalate; allow break for regrouping and calming
  
• Be patient, persistent, and loving
  
• Read child's cues
  

Motivators

• Use hands-on activities involving a variety of senses
  
• Alternate quiet and active activities-be flexible in demands for sitting still, use frequent movement breaks
  
• Use music and movement to motivate and teach concepts
  
• Use favorite toys, activities, praise, and music as motivators and to ease transitions
  
• Let the child hold things
  
• Build on the strengths and interests of the individual child
  

Environmental Modification

• Have a consistent routine with structured activities and a structured environment
  
• Provide a personal work space and an area for the child to go to regroup
  
• Reduce distractions
  
• Provide small teacher-to-student ratio and/or one-on-one instruction
  
• Be flexible and give the child choices
  
• Use visual cues, modeling, picture schedules
  

Instructional Strategies

• Work up to desired skill through successive approximations
  
• Consider sensory integration/occupational therapy needs; use sensory diet, work with OT
  
• Consider similarities to autism and incorporate appropriate strategies
  
• Anticipate schedule/needs and prepare for transitions, new experiences
  
• Break tasks down into manageable steps
  
• Don't ask for/require direct responses
  
• Work on attention, basics
  
• Focus on functional/social skills
  
• Teach the child how to interact and play
  

General

• Learn as much as possible about children with fragile X syndrome
  
• Look at the unique characteristics of each child-great variability in boys with fragile X
  
• Work with families
  
• Respect the need for medication