ABA for Kicking in Autism

Kicking — at people, furniture, car seats, or doors — can feel impossible to manage and dangerous to everyone around your child. Like most challenging behaviors in autism, kicking is communicating something, and ABA is designed to figure out exactly what.

What kicking is usually communicating

Kicking is a form of physical aggression that typically functions to help a child escape something they don’t want to do, react to frustration or sensory overload, or get an immediate response from an adult. Because it’s powerful and hard to ignore, it gets results — which reinforces it. Kicking that happens primarily during transitions, during demands, or when something is taken away often has a clear, predictable function that a BCBA can identify through direct observation and parent interview.

What ABA does about kicking

ABA starts with a Functional Behavior Assessment to understand why the kicking is happening for your specific child. Treatment then teaches a safer replacement — such as stomping feet on a designated spot to manage frustration, requesting a break with a visual, or using words or a communication device — while reducing environmental triggers. Related: emotional regulation and transitions.

Frequently asked questions

This page is general educational information, not medical advice. Every child is different — a BCBA can assess your child’s specific needs. Autumn ABA serves families in all 21 NJ counties; see where we provide ABA therapy.

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