I'm wondering if anyone can give me any advice...
My DS is nearly three and is increasingly lashing out at home and nursery. He is a due for a SENCo assessment soon for the following:
- delayed speech (has around 50 words, no sentences)
- difficultly with transitions during the day, getting impatient and tantruming as a result
- lashing out when he wants something he can't have like a toy, but being unphased when he is told not to, doesn't care if he has hurt another child or adult
- appears to have issues with understanding
I think nursery suspect he may be on the spectrum.
It's the lashing out however that we're really struggling with. It happens at home and nursery or with grandparents. He just doesn't seem to care at all if we ask him not to do something, explain why he can't, tell him off - whatever we do he doesn't seem to care. He will obsessively try and obtain whatever toy he wants, until either he or it is removed from the situation, when he will then lash out (hair pulling, pushing, hitting, scratching) or throw himself on the floor. I can usually foresee situations that he will find challenging and try to 'manage' them, but I can't seem to find a way to help him understand he shouldn't hurt people or children. It's got to the point I don't want to take him anywhere as it always ends in him lashing out at other children, or having such a meltdown that I have to carry him home/back to the car.
I really hope someone can offer some advice. It's really getting me down because I don't know how to help him, and I worry so much for his future.