How to Calm Your Child When Having a Meltdown
One of the biggest challenges for many families who have a child with special needs is dealing with negative behaviors and meltdowns. “What calming strategies have you found to be successful?” is a question I get asked often. Here are my Top 10 Tips to calm a child having a meltdown:
1. Prevention is the best policy.
This will become easier as you learn to identify and avoid meltdown triggers.
2. Do your research.
Especially if triggers aren’t obvious- to determine what factors were in place that resulted ina meltdown: make a list of things going on before the behavior took a turn for the worse and see if you can find patters.
3. Use deep pressure
This includes weighted blankets and massage to ease your child back into a calmer state.
4. Create a diversion
Take you child’s attention elsewhere. This could be singing a song, taking a walk, making silly faces or whatever usually makes your child laugh.
5. Keep yourself calm
And seek a calm environment to encourage de-escalation.
6. Aromatherapy
This can be soothing especially lavender and chamomile oils.
7. Provide positive verbal reinforcements
Due this as your child shows signs of calming down.
8. A pop-up tent
This can be effective in easing your child by providing alone time. Place soothing objects inside such as a bean bag, soft blanket, a favorite book, etc.
9. A Gluten-Free diet and various biomedical treatments
Over time may result in a lessening of meltdown tendencies.
10. Consider noise cancelling headphones
This can eliminate auditory input which can lead to sensory overload.
