My son is autistic and has ADHD. He occasionally lashes out at school. It is rare but he does hit his peers, on average around once a half term. He is in Year 1.
He is impulsive and gets angry easily. We're trying to think of strategies to help him manage this. Someone has suggested a punching bag at home might help, for him to use as a release for emotions. However, I'm concerned that this could have the opposite effect - that it will teach him to use his fists when he is upset or angry / somehow train him to punch people as he will get used to it. We did try him on judo but he didn't enjoy it and we didn't force him to continue.
Can anyone advise? Would a punchbag be a good or bad thing for him? Thanks so much.
PS grateful for any alternative ideas we can try at home. We've considered diet (he was low in iron, so he has supplements, plus other supplements/vitamins), he does a kids' journal before bed each evening, gets plenty of sleep, plenty of exercise (and we've just decided we'll take him out for a few minutes run around the field next to our house each morning which might help set him up for the day), very little screen time, firm consequences and reward system, and we're going to trial ADHD medication soon. If there's anything else we can try from home (school is a whole other matter and would need a whole different thread - he has an EHCP) we'd be grateful.