![]() ![]() The entire circle takes about 60 seconds to get through, and by then I’m starting to calm down. I have “breathing beads”, a bracelet/fidget with different sized beads, and I take a deep breath with each bead as I work my way around the circle. Well, for our family, we have certain breathing exercises that work well for each person. I know when my husband tells me to take a breath during a meltdown… If looks could kill, I’d be a widow.īut the fact is, deep breaths are a really helpful calming strategy during a meltdown. If you have, you likely know it doesn’t work well. Have you ever told someone mid-meltdown to take a deep breath? This is one where it’s really important to know your child’s preferred sensory activities. *Note: Some kids HATE deep pressure activities. My son loves deep squeezes to calm down, and now he asks for a big squeeze before he’s in full meltdown mode. Your proprioceptive sensory system helps you feel where your body is in space.ĭeep pressure helps to tell your sensory system where your body ends and the outside world begins.ĭeep pressure tools can include massage, cuddles, weighted blankets, and compression clothing. It’s all because of the deep pressure, or proprioceptive input. When you’re really stressed and having your own adult mini-meltdown, do you ever just want a hug?Īnd it isn’t just because hugs are nice, they actually play a vital role in calming you down. Make this fit your child, and it can be a game changer for calming during a meltdown. ![]() Once? Our calm down corner had a punching bag. Your corner could have pillows, calming sensory tools, or even a weighted blanket. That’s where my son feels safe, that’s where he goes to calm down. Ours is literally a folded up fluffy blanket behind my rocking chair. Your calm down corner doesn’t have to be a big elaborate space. The basic premise is to have a safe space where your child can calm down that they feel comfortable in.įor some children, you will go with them to their calm down corner to help them calm down.įor others, they need space to be alone to calm down. #3 Calm Down CornersĬalm down corners can be a great calming strategy for autism meltdowns. The key here is to know what sensory activities your child loves. In fact, a good friend of mine gets her son in the bathtub at the first sign of a meltdown. ![]() You could also try calming sensory jars, kinetic sand, or water play. When A-Man is in the beginning stages of a meltdown before he hits full spiral, we can set him up with a preferred sensory activity.įor my son, this is typically a sensory bin. Think of it this way… When you’re totally stressed, do you ever just want to punch something? Heavy work is the sensory-friendly way to get that same release without the aggression. Heavy work puts stress on the body and provides sensory input, and it can be really calming for autistic children who are in meltdown mode. You can do heavy work with specialized therapy balls, or it can be as simple as having your child carry a heavy backpack.įor my son, we’ve even had him try to push the couch. If you haven’t heard of it, heavy work is basically activities that work our children’s muscles. ![]() I learned about heavy work from my son’s first OT, and it changed our lives. Not every strategy will work for every child, so test them out one at a time to see what works best for your child. You need to know what works for your child, and what their sensory preferences are. Please don’t do all of these immediately when your child starts a meltdown. Now, before I jump into these strategies, I have a word of warning. 5 Calming Strategies for Autism Meltdowns So if you’re ready to find accommodations that actually work for your child, balance those accommodations with “real life” boundaries, and effectively advocate for your child, click here and apply for the Embracing Autism Accelerator program. If you count my blog, my page, and my free communities it is up in the hundreds of thousands of parents that I’ve helped drop the “autism mom” label and become the parent-advocate their Autistic child needs. I have helped hundreds of parents just like you parent their autistic children with ease through my communities, my courses, and my Embracing Autism Accelerator program. I am a mom of six neurodivergent kids, I’m an autistic advocate, and I’m a parent coach. If we haven’t met before, Hey, friend, I’m Kaylene. ![]()
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