Hitting

Michael does not usually have severe behavior issues, but we told the school to keep behavior management in his IEP.  It is not a question of "if" he is going to blow up, it is "when" he is going to blow up.  Recently, it has been happening more often.

I don't know why he is physically acting out more than he has in the past.  He tries very hard to go through all of the steps of calming himself down.  He has been trained in these various strategies for a long time, but he is hitting.

We went to our math playdate on Sunday.  Approximately 6 children go twice a month to our friend's house.  My friend is a former teacher, and actually a former behavior specialist, but she teaches our children advanced math. Her own son is in the group, and in Mikayla's class at school. Both of my twins go as they are both very high in math.  They spend half of their time learning and doing fun math activities, and the other half of the time just playing.  The math time was over, and the boys of the group were playing tag, Michael included.  When I went to pick up the twins I found out that Michael had basically tackled one of the boys to the ground and started hitting him.  My teacher friend and talked Michael down and said Michael stopped and got back into control fairly quickly.  Michael was "mad" that the other two boys weren't  "listening" to him.  I told Michael that was no reason to hit!  That he needed to use his words.

I'm starting to worry a bit more about him.  I don't want him to be physically acting out.  I'm afraid that we will lose good friends.  I'm afraid he will lose out on fun activities.  What if our friends say, "I just don't want Michael over anymore because he will lash out physically?"  The boy he was hitting was a solid, strong first grade boy.  Michael has been in school with him since kindergarten.  I don't understand.

I guess I always thought that autistic kids, as they mature, will develop better coping mechanisms.  I always thought that autistic kids were more "out of control" when they were younger.  I didn't expect Michael's hitting to get worse.  I didn't expect his anger outbursts to become more prevalent.  Maybe he is hitting more because it is summer and his life is not as structured or predictable?  Maybe this is a phase he is going through? 

Maybe some parents out there who have HFA children who are a bit older than Michael can shed some light on the situation.  Is he going to continue to get worse?  Is the hitting going to increase and increase?  Will he work his way out of this?