Strategies for Parents to Deal with a Meltdown
Helping your child through a meltdown
You have likely heard the saying: “when you have met a child with autism, you have met one child with autism”. Due to the fact that every child with autism is unique in their sensory processing profile, communication, and other varied skills – it is impossible to implement a “one size fits all” solution to managing meltdowns. Yet, some of the most common strategies that have helped other parents include seeking out a quiet, safe space for the child to de-escalate, as well as implementing:
- Visual schedules
- Activity or task schedules
- Check-off lists
- Social stories
If you are on the go, you may even want to consider ways to reduce the distractions in your surrounding environment, all the while supporting your child’s ability to cope. A few types of ‘portable’ strategies that may help with meltdowns on the go include the following:
- Sunglasses
- Noise-cancelling headphones
- A weighted lap pad
- A fidget toy
- A munchy snack
- A familiar and preferred scented hand lotion