![]() ![]() Your child may become easily annoyed and may seem to be overly reactive. You may feel like you are riding a roller coaster as your child becomes frustrated and then quickly drops into a sense of despair and hopelessness or an angry emotional rant. It may seem like nothing you do makes your child happy. Your child may have trouble controlling their behavior, impulses, or using good communication skills when emotions overwhelm them. ![]() A trip to the crowded grocery store on Christmas Eve might end with your child sobbing on the floor. Your child may see a dead animal on the side of the road and react with hysterics, being impossible to console. A simple splinter might lead to a day of screaming, crying, or even a trip to the doctor. It seems like everything that happens impacts them much more than expected. Some children appear to not handle everyday life like other kids. A tantrum is intended to get something or be rid of something (e.g., I want that cookie, I don’t want to wear a coat), while a meltdown is a failed attempt to manage a strong emotional reaction. Meltdowns and tantrums are not the same thing. If you would like an in-home evaluation for your child with special needs, call us today at (919) 448-6018.A meltdown in childhood is a failure to regulate strong emotions in an age-appropriate way.Ī child may feel overwhelmed by an unexpected change in routine, a shift or transition from one activity to another, or something in the sensory environment. At All About Therapy in Raleigh, we welcome our parents’ questions and work with each family to find the right solutions. If you are struggling with your child’s meltdowns, we encourage you to ask your child’s Occupational Therapist or other professional for help. Meltdowns can continue into adulthood if the proper skills are not learned. Next week, we’ll look at teaching children with special needs coping skills that will help reduce meltdowns in the long run. Don’t punish your child for the meltdown. Speak to your child in short, simple sentences. Reduce the amount of sensory stimuli and strive for a quiet, calm environment. It is best to return to the child’s regular schedule as soon as possible. Often, a child who has had a major meltdown will be extra-sensitive for a few hours afterwards. Turn down the lights, turn off the TV or radio, ask others to be quiet. Reduce sensory stimuli, if you are at home and can control the environment.Adding sensory stimulus is usually not helpful. Other than moving your child to a safe location, do not touch your child during a meltdown.Never walk away from your child in public. If you are in public, keep your eyes on your child and move him to a safe location, if needed. If you are at home, isolate your child, especially if other children are nearby.Never use corporal punishment (spanking) during or after a meltdown.This will ultimately reinforce meltdown behavior. ![]() Don’t offer rewards or bribes to try to stop the meltdown.Definitely avoid trying to negotiate with him. Don’t talk to the child having a meltdown.Your first responsibility is to keep your child (and others around him) safe. Remove any hazardous objects or things that could be thrown or break during the meltdown.Take deep breaths, pray, or silently repeat a calming phrase to yourself. Ignore (as much as possible) the advice, opinions, and criticisms of others.Mishandling a meltdown can exacerbate the situation and ultimately lead to more meltdowns. How parents and caregivers respond when a child has a meltdown is extremely important. It’s important for parents to try to discern what triggers their child’s meltdowns. A meltdown is a response to something that your child doesn’t know how to cope with. Since each child is a unique individual, meltdown triggers will differ from person to person. They can be intense! Let’s look at some common causes of meltdowns and the best ways for parents and caregivers to respond to them. I learned that a meltdown is similar to a thunderstorm in the brain of the child with special needs. When I began to witness meltdowns in my third child, who was later diagnosed with autism, I could tell they were different from a typical toddler’s tantrums. ![]() Handling meltdowns is a major challenge for even the most seasoned parent. If you have a child on the Autism Spectrum, ADHD, or similar special needs, you already know what a meltdown is like. ![]()
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