How ABA Therapy Helps Reduce Tantrums & Aggression

Written by: John Hookway

July 03, 2025

Updated on July 03, 2025

You want your child to feel safe and understood. ABA therapy uses proven strategies to help children with autism learn new skills and positive behaviors.

When you use ABA, you find out why certain behaviors happen and teach your child better ways to respond. Each plan fits your child’s unique needs and includes your whole family for support.

How ABA Therapy Helps with Tantrums shows that real change is possible, even when things feel tough.

Key Takeaways

• ABA therapy teaches kids with autism new skills. It helps them change hard behaviors to good ones.
• Knowing what causes tantrums, aggression, or self-harm helps you make better plans. These plans can support your child more.
• Showing your child how to ask for things with words, signs, or pictures helps. This makes them less upset and stops tantrums.
• Calming tools and clear routines help your child feel safe. They also lower hard behaviors.
• When families help and plans fit the child, ABA therapy works better. This brings real and lasting progress.

What Is ABA Therapy?

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy gives a clear way to help your child. It helps your child learn new skills and stop tough behaviors.

ABA uses methods that have been tested for many years. You work with trained people who make a plan just for your child. The plan helps your child build good behaviors and learn life skills.

Core Principles

ABA therapy uses seven main ideas. These ideas guide every part of the process:

1. Applied: You work on behaviors that matter every day.
2. Behavioral: You look at actions you can see and count.
3. Analytic: You use facts to check what helps.
4. Technological: You follow simple, clear steps.
5. Conceptually Systematic: You use ideas from science about behavior.
6. Effective: You want real and important changes.
7. Generality: You help your child use new skills in many places.

ABA uses positive reinforcement. When your child does something good, you give a reward. This helps your child do the good thing again.

You also split big tasks into small steps, so learning is easier. Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) and Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs) help you with this.

ABA therapy is supported by the US Surgeon General and the American Psychological Association as a main treatment for autism.

Addressing Challenging Behaviors

ABA therapy helps you learn why some behaviors happen. You and your team use tools like Functional Behavior Assessments (FBA) to find out what causes tantrums, aggression, or self-harm. Then you teach your child new ways to talk or handle feelings.

ABA uses facts to watch progress. For example, you might count how many times a behavior happens or how long it lasts.

More than 89% of kids in ABA programs get better at talking, making friends, and daily skills. Starting early and working hard brings the best results.

You can see real changes with ABA therapy. Your child learns to swap tough behaviors for good ones. This helps your child feel happier and do better each day.

How ABA Therapy Helps with Tantrums

Tantrums are hard for you and your child. You want your child to show what they need in a better way. ABA therapy helps by using steps that work.

These steps help you understand, teach, and support your child. You get tools to lower tantrums and help your child act in better ways.

Identifying Triggers

You first look for what starts your child’s tantrums. ABA therapy begins with a Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA). This helps you and your team find patterns.

You may see tantrums during changes, when your child cannot get a toy, or when routines are different. By writing down when and where tantrums happen, you can find what causes stress.

A case study showed a child had tantrums when routines changed. The team used visual schedules and changed the room a little. This helped the child have fewer meltdowns and calmer days.

ABA therapy uses facts to help each step. You and your team write down what happens before, during, and after a tantrum.

This helps you know why the behavior happens. When you know the reason, you can make a better plan to help your child.

• ABA therapy uses FBAs and Behavior Intervention Plans to find out why tantrums happen.
• Research shows that finding triggers means fewer tantrums and better control of feelings.
• Starting early and working with caregivers makes these plans work even better.

Teaching Communication

Many tantrums happen because your child cannot say what they need. ABA therapy helps by teaching your child new ways to talk.

You might use words, signs, picture cards, or devices. This is called Functional Communication Training (FCT).

When your child learns to ask for help or a break, tantrums often go down. For example, Karen is five and has autism. She learned to use a picture card to ask for a toy. Her tantrums went down because she could tell you what she wanted.

• FCT teaches kids to use words, signs, or pictures to share needs.
• ABA breaks talking into small, easy steps.
• Giving praise or a favorite thing helps your child use these new skills.

Studies show this works. Teaching new ways to talk lowers frustration and tantrums. Kids who can share their needs feel more in control and less upset.

Teaching your child to use simple words or signs helps them handle feelings. This means fewer tantrums and a happier home.

Calming Strategies

ABA therapy also teaches your child how to calm down. You and your team make a calm space. You might use soft lights, quiet rooms, or favorite sensory toys. These things help your child feel safe.

ABA therapy teaches self-control skills. Your child learns to take deep breaths, squeeze a stress ball, or ask for a break. You practice these skills together, so your child knows what to do when upset.

• Calming skills include deep breaths, sensory breaks, and quiet time.
• ABA gives rewards when your child uses these skills.
• Keeping routines and clear rules helps stop tantrums before they start.

Studies show kids who learn calming skills have fewer tantrums. For example, Alexandra is a school-age child. She learned to use a visual schedule and take breaks. Her tantrums happened less, and she felt more in control.

Tip: Practice calming skills every day, not just when things are hard. This helps your child remember what to do when they need it.

ABA therapy gives you and your child a clear plan. You find triggers, teach new ways to talk, and practice calming skills. Over time, you see real progress. Your child feels understood, and your family has more peaceful days.

Managing Aggression

Aggression can be very hard for you and your child. ABA therapy gives you ways to understand and handle these actions.

You learn to see what starts aggression, give rewards for good choices, and make routines. These steps help your child feel safe and in control.

Functional Assessment

First, you find out what leads to aggression. ABA therapists use a Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) to spot patterns.

You may see aggression when your child feels upset, cannot talk, or gets too much sensory input. The FBA shows what happens before, during, and after these times.

1. You and your team write down when aggression happens.
2. You look for things like loud sounds, changes, or needs not met.
3. You use this to make a plan that teaches new ways to show feelings.

Case studies show FBA helps replace aggression with better talking. For example, a child who could not speak learned to use picture cards. Aggression went down because the child could now ask for help.

Positive Reinforcement

You help your child learn new actions by giving rewards for good choices. Positive reinforcement means you give praise, tokens, or favorite things when your child stays calm or uses words. Studies show this works well for kids with autism.

• You give rewards for calm actions right away.
• You use simple rewards like high-fives, stickers, or more playtime.
• You include caregivers so your child gets the same help at home.

When you notice what your child does well, you help them do it again. Over time, aggression goes down, and your child feels more sure of themselves.

Structured Routines

You make each day easy to predict for your child. Structured routines lower worry and help stop aggression. You use picture schedules, timers, and clear rules so your child knows what will happen.

Research shows routines and calm spaces lower triggers for aggression. You can:

• Make a daily plan with pictures or charts.
• Use timers to help with changes.
• Keep the space calm by lowering noise and bright lights.

Keeping routines at home and in therapy helps your child feel safe. When your child knows what will happen next, they feel less worried and act out less.

With these ABA steps, you can handle aggression and help your child learn safer, better actions.

Reducing Self-Harm

Sometimes, your child may hurt themselves by head-banging or biting. This can happen when they feel too much stress or cannot talk.

Some children do this to get certain feelings from their body. ABA therapy helps you and your team learn why self-harm happens.

You use Functional Behavioral Assessments (FBA) to find out what starts these actions. For example, your child might hurt themselves to get attention, avoid a task, or because they feel nervous.

Self-injurious behaviors can come from:

• Trouble talking
• Too much sensory input
• Feeling upset
• Learned actions

When you know the reasons for self-harm, you can make a plan that fits your child. More than 20 studies show that starting ABA therapy early and sticking with it helps lower self-harm and improves talking.

Teaching Alternatives

ABA therapy helps your child find safer ways to show what they need. You teach new actions using things like Functional Communication Training (FCT).

For example, if your child bites their hand when upset, you help them use a picture card or simple words to ask for help. Giving praise or a favorite toy helps your child use these new skills.

Teaching new actions works. In one case, a child stopped biting themselves 80% of the time after learning to ask for help.

You also change things in your child’s space. Calm rooms, sensory tools, and clear routines help stop self-harm. You keep track of what happens and change your plan if needed.

Family Support

You are very important in helping your child stop self-harm. When your family works together, your child feels safe and cared for.

A happy home, good talks, and shared routines help a lot. Studies show that strong family support helps your child feel better about themselves and deal with stress.

Ways to help your child:

• Practice new skills at home
• Keep routines the same
• Give praise for good actions
• Make a calm, safe place

Remember, your help matters. When you support your child, you build trust and help them change for good.

Individualized Plans and Family Involvement

Custom Interventions

You want your child’s therapy to match their needs. ABA therapy does not use the same plan for everyone. You and your team start with a careful check.

Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs) look at what your child does well and what is hard. They use tools like Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA) and task analysis. These tools break skills into small steps. This helps your child learn at their own speed.

1. FBA helps you find out why behaviors happen by collecting facts and looking for patterns.
2. You and your team use this to make a plan for your child’s needs.
3. Task analysis splits big tasks into smaller steps, so learning is easier.
4. You change the plan as your child grows and learns new things.

Personalized ABA plans use your child’s daily habits and favorite things. This makes learning matter more and helps your child use new skills in real life.

Caregiver Training

You are important in your child’s progress. ABA therapy teaches you and other caregivers. This training helps you understand your child’s actions and shows you how to use ABA at home.

When you use the same ways as your child’s therapist, your child learns faster and remembers skills longer.

When you join in, your child feels safe and supported. Your help brings better results and a closer family.

Long-Term Benefits

With a custom ABA plan and family help, you can see real progress. Kids who get their own ABA plan talk better, make friends, and do more on their own.

They learn to handle feelings, do daily jobs, and build friendships. Keeping routines and family help makes your child feel sure and less worried.

• Better control of feelings and fewer meltdowns
• Improved social skills and more friends
• More independence in daily life
• Closer family bonds

You help your child grow by using ABA every day. Over time, you see lasting changes that make your child’s life happier and better.

ABA therapy gives you clear steps to help your child learn. You will see fewer tantrums and less aggression. Self-harm also goes down with these methods.

Positive reinforcement, skill-building, and routines are used. Each plan is made just for your child and family. This helps everyone work together and make progress.

Studies show kids get better at talking and making friends. They also do more things on their own.

You can help your child make real changes. With good support, your child can keep getting better. Hope and progress are always possible.

FAQ

What is the best age to start ABA therapy?

You can start ABA therapy at any age. Early intervention often brings the best results. Many children begin before age five. Starting early helps your child learn skills faster and reduces challenging behaviors.

How long does ABA therapy take to show results?

You may see small changes in a few weeks. Most children show bigger improvements after several months. Progress depends on your child’s needs and how often you practice skills at home.

Can ABA therapy help at home and school?

Yes! ABA therapy works in many places. You can use the same strategies at home, school, or in the community. Consistency helps your child use new skills everywhere.

Tip: Share your child’s ABA plan with teachers for better support.

Will my child always need ABA therapy?

Most children need less therapy as they learn new skills. Your team will adjust the plan as your child grows. Many children use what they learn for life.