It’s common to see behavioral challenges in autistic children. A meltdown occurs when they are overstiumlated and lose control of their behavior. Autistic meltdowns are similar to a typical “temper tantrum” but slightly more emotional, longer-lasting, and stressful. Autism spectrum disorder(ASD) affects every 1 in 36 children under the age of 8 in the United States. This is why parents and teachers are always looking for effective ways to calm a child with autism. Our experts at Opal Autism have worked and listened to families for years. In this post, we’ve compiled some very useful ways to manage or prevent autistic meltdowns.
Notice & Identify Signs of Meltdown
Before getting into calming strategies, it’s important to explain when you’ll need them. Noticing the signs of an autistic meltdown helps you act quickly and even prevent them. When an autistic child experiences sensory overload, they often close their eyes and cover their ears. These are very subtle signs they do to block out stimuli. On the other hand, some children may seek out sensory experiences with different textures.
Another sign, which is very common in autistic children, is stimming. They can start repeating any kind of movement, from chewing on fingernails to dancing. If you start noticing any of these subtle signs in your loved ones, you can start using the following techniques to calm them.
Practice Breathing Techniques
The most effective and easy way to calm a child with autism, or anyone for that matter, is breathing. You should teach your child breathing techniques when they are calm and happy. It helps them self-soothe in case a meltdown happens in your absence.
Meditation has been proven to effectively strengthen self-control and character development in autistic children. So, you can also teach your child to meditate along with a few breathing techniques in stressful situations. It’s best to have a calming routine that they should practice anywhere they want to feel secure.
Benefits of Nature for Autism
It’s also calming to get your child out of the stressful situation and find solace in nature. Confined spaces can make them uncomfortable during meltdowns, and nature offers great distractions. Exposure to nature generally also has many benefits for autistic children. Some notable ones include emotional, social, and motor-sensory benefits. You may feel that going into nature has a few safety concerns, but practicing it with your child will mitigate such risks. Being a professional center for autism, Opal has taught many parents to calm a child with autism using nature.
Use Sensory Objects
Another excellent way to calm a child with autism is by using sensory objects and toys during early stages of meltdown. As we explained earlier, autism meltdowns are bad sensory experiences. All you need is a toy to decrease sensory overload and cause a new sensory experience. There are plenty of sensory toys you can buy. Something like fidget toys or slime can be great options. They can be used on the go, and your child can easily carry them in their pockets.
You can also create a sensory toolkit, keeping your child’s favorite stuffed animal and sensory toys together for stressful situations. If you don’t have a toy right away, anything that can help remove them from the triggering stimuli will work. For instance, listening to music on headphones, having sweets, wearing sunglasses, and even something cold like ice can be effective.
Practice Positive Reinforcement
Another effective way to deal with challenging situations is to practice praise and reward. When you start praising and rewarding your child for good behavior, they pick up on it very quickly. At our Center for Autism, we have helped parents use this strategy to develop a structured environment. They set up a routine and make sure their child follows it every day.
You need to find ways to reward them with small prizes like their favorite toys or food on every new skill they learn. Once they know you appreciate their positive actions, you can use this technique during a meltdown.
Never Stop Learning About Autism
As parents, your child’s care needs will demand both time and energy. Many children with autism are identified by the age of 3. Allowing parents to learn and refine techniques to help their children from early on.
At Opal Autism, we ensure that every parent can nurture and care for their autistic child. We help you learn effective ways to address behavioral issues and take an active role in all treatment decisions. Contact us now if you have any questions or if you want to know more about autism care.
