How to Help a Child
 

I have a child in care who has some mental issues. I need advice on what to do to help this poor kid. I do not want to term as this is not the child's fault. This child has one behavior I need stopped pronto!! This child hits himself in the head and hits himself with toys In the head,slams his head in to the high chair tray. Anyone have ideas on how to help this kid???

More details please.
Child's age?
Is there a diagnosis?
Parents concerned?
Does he leave marks? Inflict serious injury?
After he hurts himself does he cry? go back to playing?
How long has the behavior been happening?
What have you tried so far?

:)

Originally Posted by Controlled Chaos:
More details please.
Child's age?
Is there a diagnosis?
Parents concerned?
Does he leave marks? Inflict serious injury?
After he hurts himself does he cry? go back to playing?
How long has the behavior been happening?
What have you tried so far?

:)

All this AND is licensing aware of this? What are their recommendations?

Little one is in a high chair so I am guessing under three. Parents need to contact early intervention in your county as soon as possible. Through early intervention, the child could have a full team evaluation.

The issue may be a mental health issue, but it may also be sensory. Many issues that appear to be cognitive/mental health/behavioral are actually sensory. Only an evaluation would reveal the issues. In the interim, one strategy that you can try is getting the child to a safe place each time they are engaging in the behavior.

You can use a bean bag, a sofa cushion, or a thick foam pad and relocate the child to the soft place when they start the head banging. Say "you can do this here." Rinse and repeat.

The child may still attempt to persist with hard surfaces. This is not uncommon; keep at it.