
Learn from it, respond with respect and embrace your childs uniqueness. Remember that the most important thing is that your child feels loved and secure. Embrace the positive and learn from the momentĮmbrace the moment as a learning experience and learn more about your child’s sensory needs, do not discredit yourself as a parent. Ensuring your child’s physical needs are met and avoiding sensory triggers are two ways that you can help thwart the onset of a meltdown. Avert the Most Frequent Causes of Temper Tantrums and Meltdowns. It could be using noise cancelling headphones, fidget toy, weighted blanket or a deep pressure hug.Į. The best way to help a child with sensory meltdowns is to prevent or help minimize the chance of a meltdown in the first place. Ask your Occupational Therapist what may work for your child. Implement sensory strategies on the spot. Watch for changes in breathing rate, tone of voice, body movements, If you see appositive change, you are on the right track, if not try something else. Notice how your child responds to the change. Note your child’s response to the environment change
#Sensory meltdown example tv
For example: turning the tv off, turning off the lights, shutting the door from external noise. This can be small changes to the room to help you identify possible triggers for the meltdown. For example: If you are stressed and angry, they become stressed and angry.Ĭhange the environment, if only for a very short amount of time. And finally, threatening him with punishments. Was he just acting bad because he didn’t want to be in the store She tried comforting him. Not to mention she had no idea what was really wrong with her son. Our children respond depending on our emotions, even if they do not realise that they are. Sarah tried to remain calm, but he was making a scene and everyone was staring. Unlike tantrums which are goal-oriented, meltdowns cannot be controlled. For information on sensory play ideas, you’ll find a lot here on The OT Toolbox. Do not force your child to end the meltdown as this can create additional negative reactions from the nervous system. Meltdowns are a result of sensory overload. Screaming Hitting Kicking Name calling Hiding or avoidance Crying The difference between a meltdown and tantrum however, can be often times, be found in the events prior to the behaviors. Analyse the situation in an attempt to identify a trigger. Stop and try not to react, attempt to remain as calm as possible. i’ve definitely sensory overload plenty of times before but i had always just assumed it was more anxiety related, and sensory overload was just sensory overload, though sometimes a combo of emotional stress and too much sensory input.

Stop, assess the situation, don’t assume its behaviour

Is it sensory or is it behaviour? We should all attempt to use appositive lens and think sensory first. Whether you’re new to this world, or you have a lot of experience, though, there is a range of myths and half-truths that you might fall for, when it comes to this phenomenon. I know it can be incredibly difficult to determine the reason for a meltdown. What is a sensory meltdown There’s no doubt that you’re familiar with them if you’ve been parenting a kid with sensory needs.
