Typical causes of problem behaviors:

• child has difficulty organizing himself/herself.
• child has difficulty attending to task (tries to play with many things at once or is distracted).
• child uses materials inappropriately or does not know what to so with them.
• child has difficulty initiating play with a toy.
• child has trouble sequencing play (get out one material, play, put it away and go to something else).
• child seeks excessive adult attention.

Some strategies to try:

• define play areas and boundaries clearly by using furniture (table and chair), a throw rug, or toy shelves to block off part of the room.
• limit the number of materials (one or two to choose from).
• help child select toy and have an adult or peer demonstrate how to use it or take turns with the toy.
• use a picture chart as a tool to help the child think and select something to play with and to help him move from one activity to another.
• use a timer to indicate time to switch activity areas.
• check room arrangement for traffic pathways and separate the quiet areas from the noisier ones for example gross motor away from the book area.
• decrease noise levels using carpet, curtains and other items to absorb sound.
• involve peers in participating in activities with the child with disabilities.