Dealing with Meltdowns

Are your back-to-school mornings rough on your child, AND on YOU? Is your child one who holds it together for most of the school day and then has a meltdown soon as they get in the car, or walk in the door? I hear these stories all of the time, but especially at this time of the year as the kids are adjusting back to a routine they’ve been away from for 2-3 months. If this is you, there are some tried and true simple things you can do to avoid meltdown mayhem!

What causes meltdowns?
We ALL love, and sometimes crave routine. When we know what’s coming, we all do better. The same is true for children. The average school day is packed with sensory input, changes in routine, and other people acting in an unpredictable fashion. This all causes stress on the nervous system. It’s especially difficult for those kids who struggle with sensory modulation and self-regulation. Kids with disabilities try SO HARD to follow the rules of the classroom and to please the teacher and staff, as well as meet the social expectations of their peers. Imagine bottling up all your reserve all day long! It shouldn’t be surprising that when they return home from a long day of stress, he or she may need to meltdown to let it all out in an environment where they feel safe and aren’t being judge by others.

8 tips on preventing a meltdown
1. Recognize that an upset child can be a signal that the day was completely overwhelming and incredibly challenging.
2. Do your best to not get caught up in thinking, “Why do they do this at home and not at school? Does that mean they can control it?” Nearly no one acts the same at work as they do at home, so imagine being a developing child faced with a barrage of daily challenges.
3. Offer a quiet area free of sensory stimulation where they can unwind and unload from the input of the day. This can be a beanbag chair in their room, the corner of a living room couch, a homemade tent made of bedsheets, or even a space where they can pull their favorite blanket over their head and just “veg”.
4. If you have a yard, swings are awesome! If you live in an apartment, inside swings like hammocks or cuddle swings work great too! The slow, rhythmical movement can be very calming and regulating.
5. Provide full body pressure when they’re ready for it. It could take the form of hugs or a mommy massage, weighted blanket or pressure vest (check with an OT for specifics).
6. For some kids, there’s a huge benefit to having a visual schedule transition with them from the classroom to the car or bus. If your child is a reader, positive affirmations can go a long way.
7. Take a chill break immediately following school. In my home, we used a schedule that was posted on the refrigerator. Soon as my son got home from school, we’d check the schedule and see that it said 2:15 PM till 2:45 PM breaktime with a list of options of fun, but calming, activities. We wouldn’t even consider homework for at least an hour.
8. Keep a social story in the car, ready-to-roll (or on the closest table to the front door for bus riders) that includes some of the strategies mentioned above. Include photos of your child doing the things that work best for them.

Remember to tell your child how proud you are that they work so hard every day at school and that there is no limit to what they can accomplish!

Warmest,
Stacey

P.S. Know someone who could use tips and tricks on raising kids with special needs? Forward this email. A little knowledge can go a long way – for both parent and child!