Children and teens living with autism can experience emotional outbursts that they are unable to control due to overstimulation. They experience a complete internal or external sensory overload and cannot control their actions. Managing behavioral meltdowns is essential for helping your child reduce their negative behaviors. A behavioral analysis program can help you understand your child’s behaviors and teach you coping skills for managing them.
At Camp Worth, we support teen boys and girls aged eleven to seventeen with developing their social and life skills to lead happy and independent lives. We work with teens and their families to help manage behaviors and create a home life that is supportive of their development. For more information about managing autism meltdowns, reach out to Camp Worth online or call 855.915.2545 today to speak with our caring staff about our applied behavioral analysis program.
5 Strategies for Managing Behavioral Meltdowns
1. Learn Your Child’s Warning Signs
Your child will develop unique warning signs that can help you identify when they begin to lose control. A child with autism can show signs of anxiety or self-stimulating behavior when they begin to feel out of control. When you notice these pre-cursor behaviors, remove them from the scenario and distract them with a favorite toy or other coping mechanisms.
2. Remain Calm
When your child begins experiencing a meltdown, you need to remain calm and be observant. After the experience is over, take some time and write down everything that happened so you can learn from it and hone your skills at managing autism meltdowns.
3. Identify the Cause of the Meltdown
What was your child doing right before the meltdown? What behaviors do they show during and after the meltdown? What techniques helped calm them down the most? The more detailed you can be, the better.
4. Minimize Potential Triggers
As you begin managing autistic meltdowns, you will be able to develop strategies for avoiding their triggers. This can be anything from noise-canceling headphones, bringing toys and activities for distraction, to avoiding certain social gatherings that are crowded and noisy.
5. Give Them Space
During a meltdown, your child will not be able to control their emotions and behaviors. Sometimes the best thing you can do is put them in a safe and familiar space and sit with them until they calm down.
Understanding Your Child’s Behavior
While all unwanted behavior can seem the same, behavioral meltdowns are different from attention-getting behavior such as temper tantrums. Behavioral meltdowns happen when a child is overstimulated and unable to control their actions. They are emotional explosions that they are unable to control once triggered.
While each child is different, common warning signs of a meltdown often include stimming or repetitive motions such as pacing, tapping, or rocking back and forth. It is essential to understand your child’s warning signs if you want to become better at managing autistic meltdowns.
Common warning signs of behavioral meltdowns can include:
- Hand flapping
- Headbanging
- Kicking
- Biting
- Pacing
- Rocking
- Hyperventilating
- Inability to communicate
At Camp Worth, we know how frustrating it can be when dealing with your child having a meltdown. We can help you understand your child’s behaviors and what coping skills work best at managing autistic meltdowns.
Learn More About Managing Behavioral Meltdowns at Camp Worth
At Camp Worth, we help teen boys and girls aged eleven to seventeen better understand their emotions and behaviors to help them lead happier and more independent lives.
We offer several programs and services for your teen’s development, such as:
- An applied behavioral analysis program
- Education program
- Food and nutrition program
- Family education program
Reach out to our friendly Camp Worth team today by calling 855.915.2545 or filling out our online form.
