How do I stop/calm a meltodown? | Autism PDD

ignoring a tantrum is so hard! however, it needs to be done. if she is in danger of hurting herself or others you need to move her to a location where she can go ballistic.

if there is a moment when she seems to "calm" then remind her of either the task at hand or ask her to tell you what she wants (don't know if she is verbal?) and if she starts screaming again, ignore it.

this usually gets worse before it gets better. it needs to be gotten under control otherwise how can you ever leave the house without fear of a major meltdown??

hope this helps!

L

Search the site. There was a very long thread on tantrums recently.  Sitckboy put some really great insights on the thread.  My daughter has been throwing big tantrums all the time... nothing in particluar sets these off... My therapist has asked me to ignore ALL tantrums and work thru the session regardless of if sheis throwing her head around..... is this the right way of going abt it?I am doing what the therapist advised me -would love input.This is a tough one. Most ABA therapists that I know will insist on
working through one.
They may at times end the session early if they feel that the child is
getting sick or overly tired due to lack of sleep or increase in activity
level.

The problem with ending the sessions once the meltdowns begins is that
a child will use this (my child will) to avoid having therapy and will do this
over and over. My son had a few anti-learning behaviors.

Try to see if it is one therapist that she has problems with or if it is a
certain program. If you can narrow it down, you can change how the
programs are run. Not every therapist will be a good fit.

Before you interrupt your sessions, I would ask your BCBA or Supervisor
for a little help with this. My child when he was 21/2 would cry at times.
He had his last meltdown maybe about three months ago. He rearely has
them now.

rita07, refer to MsSteelersFan thread titled... Behavior Modification Controlling Tantrum...

It's SUPERBLY CRAFTED !! 

boobear39259.623587963I would agree that some tantrums need to be ignored, but IMO there is no way any progress can be made during one. I would think trying to force them to work would only prolong it. Ignoring it - like walking away, might work out. I find that in all but the worst cases he will let me hold him and that seems to help. Avoidance is key. If you are doing something stright forward, like a session, you should be able to find the trigger and work around itI agree with the above post.

For us it would depend on how intense the meltdown was, usually it was a whining, refusing to cooperate type tantrum, and we'd ignore it and work though it. Often they would complete a task they didn't want to complete with the therapists hands on theirs whining the whole time, and we would all clap and praise them like crazy. If it was a full blown screaming tantrum, I would usually hold them/hug them or we would take a short break. I really couldn't ignore those cause they would keep going until they threw up. Deep pressure usually worked. Then it was back to work. Is this an OT? They gave the boys a heavy turtle to hold and it did help calm them down. Has she suggested anything like that?

What Linda mentioned above is so true... If it was a full-blown meltdown with tantrum throwing...you might want to bring her away to another room, just the 2 of you, hold on to her and hug her. She'll probably calm down better in a new environment with less stimulation from other people...
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