Do not allow behavior problems to succeed in escaping demands. If you give the child an instruction and the child has a tantrum, ignores you, engages in self-stimulatory behavior, walks away, or refuses to comply with your instruction, you must continue to insist that the instruction is completed.

Wait the child out, when he or she is calm, make sure the task is completed. Use a contingency statement to improve the child's motivation. For example, "I know you do not like making the bed, but when you are finished, it will be time to ride your bike (or something else pleasant to the child)."

This results in a win-win situation, which is what we are always seeking with our children. Allowing a child to escape demands is a very powerful reinforcer for their escape behavior (tantrum, etc.) and this will be a very difficult habit to break once it is established.