BUZZer Blog Part 2
Welcome to part 2 of this buzz blog on haircuts. If you haven’t read part 1 yet, you can find it here.
Haircuts for a lot of people, especially individuals with a diagnosis of Autism, can often be a source of stress because of the steps involved in completing this process. My goal throughout this blog, is to teach you how this process can be made easier by discussing with you ways to assess the areas that pose challenges and how to break these steps down into parts, so that your child can learn to tolerate and accept this process willingly. The 3 P’s of: Planning, Pairing and Practicing is where this all begins. So, let’s get started… together!
Step One: Data Collection
I don’t want you to be scared by the word “data”. You may be thinking that “I don’t have time for another thing to do”, well I get it, but keep in mind, data collection in some form or another is important and is recorded because it really DOES help us assess and make decisions from it that will help guide the next step. It tells us whether something we are doing is effective or not effective? That is valuable information to gather along the way and really is an important thing to do in some form. If you are still with me and reading, that means that not only are you interested, but that you are committed and ready to act, and that’s why Aut 2 Bee Learning is here, for YOU.
Step Two: Questions to Ask Yourself
Let’s discuss some starting points to think about when trying to assess the process involved:
Decide if you or if someone else will be providing the haircut to your child? This will need to be someone that has the time, patience and availability to do this several times a day or week to practice.
Decide in what environment the haircut will take place, (i.e., Your Home, Barber Shop, Hair Salon, etc.). If you are going to do this at home, then choose a designated room in your house to do this in. If you decide to do this in the bathroom, I suggest trying this NOT facing a mirror at first. In my experience, getting a haircut can sometimes look different and could be confusing for some children to see someone behind them with the haircutting tools while looking at themselves in the mirror. If this is not an issue at all for your child, then this is a step you do not have to consider.
Decide what materials you need for this process and make a list?
For example, there are many products out there now that can be helpful to use: such as scissors with attached combs, safety scissors with a rounded tip, low noise and vibration buzzers, lightweight cape, etc. This will need to be an individual decision and you and/or your team will need to decide which products are the best fit for your child.Decide what reinforcers you are going to use that are super powerful and motivating. You only want to use VERY HIGHLY PREFERED reinforcers for this, so bring out the big stuff like the iPad, fidget toys, favorite games, music, etc.
Decide the type of chair that will be used for the haircut? I suggest using a chair for your child that is an appropriate height and their feet can touch the ground for stability. I would also use a different chair that is NOT associated with eating or learning at a table.
Step Three: Assessing the Steps Involved
Once these questions are answered thoroughly and truthfully, you will then assess what areas are considered the “challenges” for your child. Let’s think of the haircutting process as a staircase of steps that each must be walked independently one at a time. For example: Does your child show resistance when they see the sight of a cape, hair buzzer or scissors? Does your child show resistance when you touch their hair, brush/comb their hair or when you spray water on their hair? Does your child show resistance when you ask them to sit in a chair or when they hear scissors or a buzzer? These are all the types of questions that you should be asking yourself to see where you should start? If any of these steps are a challenge for your child, then it is imperative that each of these steps be paired up with reinforcement first.
Plan
Once you assess the areas you have identified (a.k.a., the staircase of different steps to walk), you have a better idea about where to begin the haircut process and what step you should focus on first that is a challenge for your child. Write out each step and in the order in which the process would generally take place:
For example:
Step 1: Sit in chair
Step 2: Put on a cape
Step 3: Comb/Brush hair
Step 4: Wet hair
Step 5: Make scissors or buzzer visible
After you write down all the specific steps that are individual for your child, assess which step your child has difficulty with and make that the step you start with. It is possible for your child to be okay and just fine with some steps in the process. In that case, remember to still maintain those steps and continue with pairing up the next step that is challenging.
Pair
Pair up each step that has been identified with positive reinforcement. Positive reinforcement is: The occurrence of a particular behavior is followed by an immediate consequence that results in the strengthening of the behavior. (The person is more likely to engage in the behavior again in the future.) (Miltenberger, 2016). Using highly preferred reinforcers and delivering them during and after each step of the process that typically is difficult for your child, is one of the keys to the success of this. Make each step in the process a positive experience by pairing with reinforcement. For example, this could mean allowing your child to play a certain game or video on the iPad while you brush their hair, touch their hair, or sit in the chair being used for the haircut, etc.
Once successful pairing of each step has been accomplished, in other words, is able to tolerate this, is comfortable and does not pose resistance to each of the steps you are targeting across a certain number of days and/or weeks, you would then move on to the next step that you have designated to work on until you have all your steps completed and having met the criteria you set. I would then teach and discuss with someone else such as a hair stylist, barber, etc., what steps you have worked on so that consistency is continued for your child with this process across other people.
Practice
I repeat…. lots and lots of practice of each step!! This is a CRUCIAL component and one that should NOT be skipped. Once you have assessed the areas of a haircut, pick the first step that poses a challenge for your child and start there with the “3 P’s” process. Continue to pair up each specific step until you see your child is comfortable and can tolerate having this step in the process completed repeatedly at different times. Once this is achieved and has reached a specific criterion that you have set, then move on to the next step and so on repeating the “3 P’s” for each, while maintaining the step you previously targeted. I would suggest that once you know what step you will be working on, that you try to practice this as many times as possible. Set a schedule for this; For example: Brushing Hair —3 times per day for 5 minutes, 3 times per week for 10 minutes, etc., but make a promise to yourself to schedule in the practice.
Closing Note
Keep in mind that this is going to require hard work, effort, patience, careful planning and time. Chances are, this may not be an instant success overnight and it may mean that you could be practicing utilizing the 3 P’s approach with them for days, weeks or even months depending on the history and how resistant your child is with the steps of having their hair cut, but it is worth taking the time out to do this. Remember the end goal, is to help your child learn to tolerate and become more willing to get a haircut and to decrease the resistance to it that has been observed in the past. This will also help with individuals that have never had their hair cut. Take it one day at a time. I think it is important to mention that you will need to tailor these steps based upon the specific needs of each child. I suggest designating one person to perform these steps at first to help with consistency.
All of these steps and suggestions mentioned are meant to be for informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute to professional help and/or guidance. If it is at all possible to obtain the guidance of a professional such as, a Licensed Board-Certified Behavior Analyst and/or other highly trained professionals with competent knowledge in Applied Behavior Analysis to help you along the way with this process for added support as you work on this, I highly recommend doing so. Many professionals can be found by reaching out to your local school districts, Department of Health County Representatives and various agencies that provide ABA through your own medical insurance companies.
Lastly, I have created a free downloadable form entitled “Haircut Blueprint” that you can use that will help you organize and put these steps together when you are ready. I have also attached an anonymous survey below about haircuts that I would appreciate you fill out so that I can get to know more about what areas pose challenges for someone you know.
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All My Best,
Sue