Autistic children are often very sensitive to things like touch, sound and light. They can also be extremely confused and frustrated by unexpected events, such as changes in routine. Since autistic children often struggle to understand or express their emotions, they can have breakdowns. During a meltdown episode, a child may cry, slump violently, sabotage things, or even respond to others with violent reactions. Autistic children can be easily agitated, so it is important for their parents to know how to calm them down when this happens. Every baby is different, so try a variety of techniques to find out which methods work for your baby.
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| how to calm an autistic children |
Preventing meltdowns and dealing with their occurrence
1 Find out what triggers a meltdown. Finding the cause can help you keep the child away from what is upset him. This is important for calming an autistic child. Observe your child and try to identify the triggers for specific behaviors he is performing. If the parent or caring person is aware of the child's excitement, they will be able to avoid it.
- Keep a notepad for what your child usually triggers is to help you prevent triggering meltdowns. You might also consider using an app on a smartphone to document crashes and their causes.
- Common triggers for meltdowns in autistic children include changes or imbalances in their usual routine, overstimulation, frustration, and difficulty communicating.
- Meltdowns are different from tantrums. A tantrum is a deliberate way for a child to influence you and get what he wants, and to stop as soon as you give in to it. A meltdown occurs when the autistic person becomes so tense that he loses control of himself and feels weak, and the collapse does not stop until the seizure is complete.
2 Stick to a routine. When there is a routine for a child to follow, he can predict what will happen. This helps keep the child calm.
Graphic charts can help your child see what will happen for the rest of the day or week.
- If you know that routine will change on a given day, make sure to take time to prepare the child. Talk to him beforehand and make him understand these changes clearly and patiently.
- When you introduce your son to a new environment or surroundings, it is best to introduce the place to him when there are fewer stimuli. This means bringing your son around at a time when there is less noise and there are fewer people.
3 Talk to your son clearly. Speech communication is a source of frustration for many autistic children. Speak with patience and respect and make your articulation clear.
- Avoid yelling or speaking in an aggressive tone, as this may make the meltdown worse.
- If verbal communication is difficult for your child, try communicating with him or her using pictures or another type of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) method.
- Remember, communication means mutuality. Always listen to your child and make your appreciation and respect for what he has to say. Ask him clarification questions if there is something you need to understand, so that you avoid the downsides of frustration.
4 Distract the child if you think the cause is emotional / psychological. When your child is angry, you can sometimes calm him or her by diverting his attention to something else. Experience playing passionately with his favorite game, playing his favorite video, or listening to his favorite song.
- Try to get what the child likes the most, if possible.
- The distraction doesn't work every time. For example: Asking your sister about her collection of stones may succeed in distracting her from the fear of getting the flu shot, but it will not fix the situation if her problem is that she feels the fabric of her dress as if it is fire ants on her skin.
- Once the child is calm, it will be a good idea to talk to him about what made him angry or agitated in the first place. Ask him what happened and work with him to find ways to prevent this from recurring.
5 Change the things around the child. Your child may be upset because he is so sensitive and there is something triggering him. When this happens, it is a good idea to simply move the child to a different location or change something in their surroundings (such as turning off loud music) to reduce the overheating.
- For example, if a child is bothered in a room lit by fluorescent lights, it is better to take him to a room with a different light, rather than forcing him to adapt to it.
- If your kid is in a place that cannot be easily changed, take precautions. For example, you can give your child sunglasses (to prevent sensitivity to light) or earplugs to wear in public places (to block out noise). With your child, think about all possible precautions to come up with some helpful ideas.
6 Give your child some space. Sometimes all a child needs is a little time to feel ready to reconnect with the world. Try letting him sit for a while until he calms down, usually in an area with little sensory stimulation.
- Keep safety in mind. Never leave a young child alone or lock up a room unattended, no matter what. Make sure the child is safe and can leave whenever they want.
7 After the meltdown episode ends, discuss it with your child. In your discussions, take a solution-based approach: instead of blaming or punishing your child, talk about ways to prevent meltdowns and handle stress better. Try talking to him about:
- In the opinion of the child, what caused the collapse? (Listen patiently).
- How can similar situations be avoided in the future?
- More helpful techniques for dealing with these causes in the future (taking a break, counting, using deep breathing, asking to leave the place, etc.).
- An escape plan to end future meltdowns.
Calm the child using deep pressure
1 Use deep pressure. Autistic children often have differences in sensory integration, which can be stressful or even painful. Apply deep pressure to relax the muscles.
- Try wrapping him in a blanket so that he will be comfortable, or cover him with several layers of blankets. The weight of the blankets will act as a calming pressure, but be sure not to cover his face as this will prevent it from becoming a barrier to breathing.
- You can order online or create your own tools designed for deep pressure. Heavyweight blankets, toys, heavy leg pads, and compression jackets are all options available to you.
2 Massage your baby with deep pressure. Massage is a good way to communicate with your baby, while you are massaging him with deep pressure, which can strengthen your relationship with him. Put the baby between your legs. Grab his shoulders in your hands, and apply pressure. After that, move your hands slowly over his arms and shoulders.
- If you are not comfortable with what you're doing, consider seeking advice from a massage therapist. Or ask someone you know who rubs the back very well.
3 Try pressure with a pillow. Cushion compression is done by placing the child on a soft surface such as a cushion or sofa cushion. Have the child sit or lie down, then use a resting pad or other pillow to apply slow pressures to the torso, arms and legs.
- Avoid covering the child's face to avoid the risk of accidentally choking.
Calming the child with vestibular stimulation exercises
1 Understand how vestibular / vestibular stimulation exercises work. The vestibular system contributes to balance and a sense of spatial orientation. Cardio exercises help calm the child, using swings or rockets.
- Repetitive motions calm the child and shift their focus to attention to physical sensations.
2 Swing the baby back and forth. Put the baby on a swing and gently push it. Find the right speed for your child by slowing or speeding up until your child calms down and adjusting the speed accordingly. If the swing seems to make things worse, stop.
- It may be appropriate to install a home swing to make the best use of this method. You will be able to access this hammock regardless of weather and weather conditions.
- Some children can swing themselves. In this case, gently suggest that the child go to the swing.
4 Rotate the child in a chair. Coiling is considered a stimulating exercise for the vestibular system. This activity will likely stop the collapse episode by distracting attention from what is arousing the child and making the attention shift to the physical sensation.
- Office chairs are often best suited because they rotate easily.
- Make sure the child is seated firmly in the chair and roll the chair gently to avoid injury.
- Some children will prefer to keep their eyes open, while others will close them.
Helpful ideas
- Speak in a calm, relaxed tone.
- Acknowledge your frustrations and deal with them to avoid getting them out of your baby.
- Communicate regularly with teachers and caregivers to provide harmony in the child's life.
Warnings
- Approach your child with caution if he is collapsing or throwing things or if he may feel trapped. Otherwise, he might hurt you unintentionally.
- If you are concerned that your child may harm himself or someone else, or if you become confused and not know what to do, seek help from another caregiver.