Welcome to our lesson on redirect
- In this section, you will learn
- What redirect is
- Why redirect is important
- How to use redirect to improve behaviors
Redirect overview
What is redirect?
- Distracting a child with something fun
- Getting a child to focus on a new toy or activity
Redirect should be fun!
What does redirect sound like?
The child wants another child's toy. They start whining.
- "I have this super cool bus that is so much fun and I'm going to make it fly!"
The child is upset at the store because they want a treat.
- Caregiver starts a game. "I spy, with my little eye, something blue..."
The child complains that their art project is not turning out right.
- "Sounds like we need a quick break." Caregiver turns on child's favorite songs.
The child is not cleaning up because they want to keep playing.
- "I am going to race you to put away the most toys away. Ready, set, go!"
Redirect live in action
Why is redirect important?
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Distraction can help stop tantrums before they start. Your child may become upset when they can’t have something they want. If you know this is likely, plan to have something else ready to distract the child.
Try to distract with something your child really likes. Use strategic attention to ignore whining. Then redirect and praise when your child starts to do the new activity.
Redirect works very well with strategic attention to change a child’s attitude. Your child might have a negative attitude about a situation. For example, they are bored at the store and start whining. Ignore the whining and redirect to a fun activity. Then gives lots of praise when they have a better attitude.
Try to play “I spy,” ask your child for help finding items, or sing a favorite song.
Children might get very focused or “stuck” on things they want. Redirect helps your child get “unstuck” by helping them focus on something else. This lets you avoid punishing your child and gives you a chance to praise your child for behaviors you like.
When and how should I redirect?
Learn how redirect can be used by selecting a specific difficult behavior below.
More: Learn how redirect can be used by selecting a specific positive behavior/goal below.
Pay attention to your words
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Try not to use commands when you redirect. Commands create power struggles. Instead, talk about how much fun you are having with the new activity. This gives your child a sense of control as they choose to do something else. Use commands only if necessary.
Try to be excited when you redirect. This makes your child want to do what you’re doing.
How would you redirect?
Question #1
Your child wants to play with another child’s car. They start whining.
Question #2
You are walking in the store with your child. You’re about to get to the toy aisle. You know you can’t buy a toy today. You think your child may throw a fit if you don’t buy them a toy.
Question #3
Your child is having a hard time cleaning up their toys. They keep getting distracted and stalling.
Ideas for fun redirect activities
Work on a puzzle together. Allow your child to work on the puzzle mostly alone. If you notice your child having trouble during the puzzle, redirect them with new puzzle pieces to try in different places. This will help them stay focused and have fun.
One person says “I spy something…” then a vague description. For example, “I spy something green.” The other person looks around the room and guesses what it is. This is a great way to focus on your surroundings.
Select Below
2-5 minutes
Watch this Sesame Street video of Julia, an Autistic child, and her family. When Julia starts to get upset that things aren’t going the way she wants them to, her parents use redirect to help her stay calm. After you watch, talk about the fun activities you use to redirect when you’re getting upset.
My plan for REDIRECT
Think about how you can use redirect at home.
Hooray! You've learned a new skill: Redirect
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