Managing Child Meltdowns & Tantrums - Tips From A Board Certified Behavior Analyst

Dealing with a child in meltdown mode can be a delicate situation. Discover essential strategies to support children during challenging meltdowns, including elopement, aggression, and property destruction. In this video, Sasha Long, MA, BCBA shares expert insights on maintaining safety and minimizing risks when a child is in meltdown mode. Empower yourself with proven techniques that ensure a secure environment for both the child and those around them, whether at home or in educational settings. Learn Sasha's top 5 tips on how to help keep a student safe when they are melting down - whether that means eloping, engaging in aggression, or property destruction.
Resources shown in this video:
Choice Boards: shop.theautismhelper.com/prod... & shop.theautismhelper.com/prod...
Executive Functions Toolkit: shop.theautismhelper.com/prod...
Social Stories: shop.theautismhelper.com/prod...
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[@ellioth9556]

I work as a TA in a special ed school. My students are 9-12 and gosh it's so validating to know i am utilizing most of these tips. My students deserve the best and i want to grow and learn new ways to help them in these tough times.

[@theautismhelper]

Love to hear it! Thank you so much for sharing!

[@ikn0waplace]

I’m very new to working with preschoolers in a classroom setting, and as an autistic person, it gets overwhelming when a child goes into meltdown mode. Mostly because I understand how they are feeling, but they aren’t old enough to know how to handle their big emotions. I have a child who’s been having very out of character meltdowns lately and I’m learning how to help him better :)

[@theautismhelper]

Yes it is tricky with the little ones!

[@Smileysweetiepie]

How?

[@ruthcardona8734]

Love this, I have been working with children with autism for over 18 years in classrooms and watching videos as this I am always learning, we never ever stop learning, thank you!!🥰

[@theautismhelper]

So true! Thanks for watching!

[@NYCWendy1]

I’m going to make a visual choice board today thank you so much for this video!!!

[@theautismhelper]

Hope this was helpful! Thanks for watching!

[@gracemahoney8694]

As someone who is a few months away from graduating with my masters in ABA I can agree theseare all perfect strategies to use and are applicable for almost everyone I love how she said take a minute to calm yourself down before you go over to give help prompt or wait, she’s right people tend to accidentally escalate the situation with their reactions!

[@theautismhelper]

So true! Thanks for watching!

[@sophiaxo569]

I definitely agree, i have inadvertently reinforced an inappropriate behaviour with my client of 2 years before! In that period of time I remember feeling overwhelmed often and i now make sure to take a breather before responding to meltdowns/tantrums.

[@MrsMysteryWoman]

I did that exact same thing today! But once I stopped and took some deep breaths, the whole vibe was different and things took a turn for the better.

[@monic.9988]

Out of all the vids that i have seen about this subject - this is hands down the best one , thank you

[@theautismhelper]

Thanks for watching!

[@alexandriabeatrix117]

This was such a great video! Some of these methods I already use in my classroom, such as offering choices, and speaking calmly, but it feels so great to be affirmed thag those are good ways to help students out. I really liked the examples of choice boards you showed us, and I think that they would be really helpful in our classroom. Thank you so much for this!

[@theautismhelper]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching!

[@jen10272001]

Great video! I volunteer daily in the cafeteria and kids get so out of control. We have a lot of teachers who try to force them to calm down quickly by just yelling at them. Many kids are upset while trying to dispose of their uneaten food and racing their friends trying to go out to recess. I try to just slow down my movements and voice and remind them I'm here to help them sort their recycling so they can go play. It's stressful though and at the end of the lunch period the cafeteria looks like a crime scene most days.

[@theautismhelper]

Yes! Modeling is such a great strategy!

[@haleynicole1691]

Your video deserves wayyy more likes ! Definitely going to make more visual cards and pictures!

[@theautismhelper]

Glad to hear this was helpful! Thanks for watching :)

[@yosrarebhi4711]

amazing video, such a positive vibes

[@theautismhelper]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching!

[@mathanimathani454]

Thank you so much

[@theautismhelper]

Thanks for watching!

[@MisfitJetta-du8rg]

Thanks for this! I just started working in special education as an IA. I have ADHD and Autism myself and still working on calming down and patience.

[@theautismhelper]

Hope this was helpful for you! Thanks for watching!

[@victoriaLL345]

Awesome tips

[@theautismhelper]

Thanks for watching!

[@Carlyceltic2024]

My little boy has it hasn’t been confirmed yet, I knew from when he was around 10 months he’s now 2 and half. He’s getting the help now at the nursery hopefully not long before it’s confirmed. Then I can look at steps forward for both me and him x

[@lorim4863]

These are great strategies! Several years ago, I read about a girl who had meltdowns and the doctor realized she had PANDAS/PANS. (Dr. Kenneth Bock's book Healing the New Childhood Epidemics) Things that help our son are the GAPS diet, medicine, supplements like high dose sodium ascorbate, feverfew capsules, etc. Also, recently we've begun homeopathy for PANDAS/PANS and have seen improvement. Their immune system can attack their brain causing migraines and meltdowns and yes, not adding to the stress helps. Also, a lot of people praying for him helps!

[@malikrah1]

Thanks you.

[@theautismhelper]

Thanks for watching!

[@miinkmiink5209]

Keep them coming

[@theautismhelper]

Thanks for watching!

[@amandajesseleigh]

What about when the choices then trigger an already escalated situation... choices are thrown away in anger and they just dont hear anything? 4yr old boy mom here🙋🏼‍♀️

[@theautismhelper]

Try to catch before the situation escalates and offer choices before. Once the situation is escalated, consider giving space/time before coming in with support and/or choices!

[@ieyeshiabates3556]

Thank youuuu😊

[@theautismhelper]

Thanks for watching!

[@madisen7499]

Do you have a link to your visual choice boards? I love them!

[@theautismhelper]

Yes! We have a few options. You can find them in our store 🤗! shop.theautismhelper.com/products/real-photo-token-board shop.theautismhelper.com/products/positive-reinforcement-visual-system-for-children-with-autism-or-special-needs There are also a TON of visuals like this in our Executive Functions Toolkit: shop.theautismhelper.com/products/toolkit-executive-functions

[@YM-mt8eo]

​@@theautismhelper Could you add the link to the "Calm strategies choice board" and "I can help myself..." that you show in the video. I couldn't find them in the store. Thank you!

[@blueblousedesigns]

Keep several play mats or a large gymnastics mat in the classroom

[@theautismhelper]

Great suggestion! Thanks for watching!

[@shyphuong80]

❤❤❤

[@theautismhelper]

Thanks for watching!

[@daughterofsekhmet81]

Any advice on how to calm escalating tantrums in a 5yo autistic boy? He's very smart and usually very sweet and happy but every morning is a nightmare- screaming, crying, kicking, and throwing himself to the floor because he doesn't want to go to school. The tantrums are mainly about school, but he sometimes has them if we need to go to the doctor or the store. Those are much less severe, it's just the school ones that are becoming unmanageable. We've talked about why he doesn't like going anywhere and all he ever says is "I just like staying home". He just wants to stay home and play with his toys 24/7. I've tried empathizing, ignoring, being firm, offering rewards if he cooperates, I let him take his favorite toy to school, but nothing works. They are definitely tantrums too and not true meltdowns cause I see him switch tactics throughout. When saying he doesn't want to go doesn't work, he says he doesn't like his teachers(he actually does like them, and this one really worries me because I don't want him thinking he can lie or make up stories to get what he wants). When that doesn't work, he starts crying with exaggerated "Waaaah!" sounds like he's imitating a baby, while watching me to gauge my reaction. Then comes "but I'm sick!" followed by fake coughing. If none of it works, it's kicking and throwing himself and trying to run away. This morning was the worst yet, he normally cries and complains but walks into the school willingly, but this morning I had to walk him in and physically restrain him so he wouldn't bang his head or run away. He has an IEP and very good caring teachers, every day when I pick him up he's in a good mood and tells me he had fun that day, but this behavior is getting progressively worse. I am autistic myself and at my wit's end. I'm genuinely worried for when he gets bigger and stronger than me and I can't control him anymore.

[@theautismhelper]

Did you rule out medical concerns? Can the school behavior consultant or teachers give you some suggestions? Hang in there! Your son is lucky to have such a dedicated parent!

[@barbarabailey5178]

I recently read an article by a child psychologist on this topic. His advice was to tell the child that "the doctor" said he/she is behaving this way because he/she isn't getting enough sleep. Therefore, he/she has to go to bed after supper - no playing, TV, etc. No matter how much he/she complains, etc., the child has to stay in bed in his/her room. If he/she wants to stay up after supper, he/she accepts going to school. I will also mention that in a classroom I have substituted in, a mother made a reward chart that hangs on the classroom door. When she drops her son off, if he is good about staying he gets a marker for that day and at the end of the week, there is some reward for good behavior. Hope one of those help.

[@daughterofsekhmet81]

@@theautismhelper Sorry for the late reply but I might have figured it out! So one of his main sensory issues is wearing anything on his lower legs- pants, socks, boots, etc. He absolutely HATES it. We live in Wisconsin too so he's been having to wear pants all winter obviously and he would immediately pull the pant legs up to his knees then put up another huge fight when I tried to put his socks & boots on. After the last big meltdown a couple weeks ago it hit me- maybe he doesn't actually hate school, but he equates school with pants and socks. The meltdowns also started in late fall, when it started getting cold. All the pieces fit, so I tested my theory by letting him wear his shorts and crocs to school. Since then there hasn't been a single morning meltdown. The weather is getting nice enough and on colder mornings I just wrap him in a blanket on the way to the car. The school lets him stay in the sped room for recess, so it works out fine. I still kind of can't believe it was that simple and I'm not calling it 100% solved yet, but the difference has been night & day. Hopefully next winter the pants will be better received, but for now I'm just going to enjoy my once again happy little guy. Thanks!!

[@v.a8530]

my 2 and a half years old he is picking my skin so much and scratching me extremly i m lost i dont know if he ever live this he has the signs of autism still not diagnosed we waiting doctor to call us when he can take us its soo hard i lost my joy im all the time in stress he yelling all the time im so lost is he going to live those behaviour theh all come from inside is not something that he saw them somewhere he is extrymly nervous and agresive he doesnt sleep i love him so much i see he is strugling and me too i wish i can find a cure

[@theautismhelper]

I would check in with an Occupational Therapist!

[@joyful5681]

Trying to find ideas for a toddler

[@theautismhelper]

Then you're in the right place! Check out my free, mini course: 10 Quick Wins for Positive Behavior Change kzbin.info/aero/PLaNcwbUxolMh6AuTlrjGNiipasDgmPmYZ

[@meghandandrea4790]

What about a student who is triggered by the word “write”

[@theautismhelper]

Do an FBA to figure out what is going on!

[@meghandandrea4790]

@@theautismhelper he already has a BIP

[@adriannenagy7433]

What about alternatives like draw or paint or use alphabet stamps and they are matching the stamps to an example you give. Or let's do this together with hand over hand assistance.

[@dealingwithfeeling763]

Hi, I would like to collaborate with your channel. Dealing with Feeling helps people cope with feelings. We aim to help children cope with feelings early on so they do not struggle with emotions later on but know them as drivers on their path.

[@theautismhelper]

Hi there! That sounds like a great program! At this time we are not doing any promotions or collaborations. Good luck with your endeavours!

[@dealingwithfeeling763]

@@theautismhelper Thank you.