Autism: Managing Meltdowns

By Judy Rushton

One of the most misunderstood autistic behaviors is the meltdown. Every parent finds themselves dealing with a temper tantrum at sometime, but tantrums involving children and youth with autism are typically more frequent and severe. These tantrums are often referred to as meltdowns. Parents and caregivers of children with autism know that dealing with meltdowns is a part of their daily lives. This book is designed to help parents and adults who live and work with children with autism know how to manage meltdowns. Managing meltdowns isn’t easy, but it is possible.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Judy Rushton
• Release date: Feb 18, 2014
• ISBN: 9781310439001

Book preview

Autism: Managing Meltdowns

By Judy Rushton, ED.S

Copyright 2014 Judy Rushton

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Table of Contents

Chapter 1- Introduction

Chapter 2- Typical Tantrums versus Meltdowns

Chapter 3- Meltdown Misperceptions

Chapter 4-Common Meltdown Occurrences

Chapter 5-Meltdown Triggers

Chapter 6-Meltdown Strategies

Chapter 7- Stages of Meltdown

Chapter 8- The Anxiety Stage

Chapter 9- Loss of Control Stage

Chapter 10- Calm Stage

Chapter 11- Preventing Meltdowns

Chapter 12- Avoiding Power Struggles

Chapter 13-Increasing Social Understanding

Chapter 14- Visual Supports

Chapter 15-Cartooning

Chapter 16- Self-Awareness

Chapter 17- Important Tips to Remember

Introduction

Developing skills to deal with stress and anxiety is an important developmental skill for children in maintaining social interactions and a healthy lifestyle. Young children experience temper tantrums as a normal reaction to stress and anxiety at times. Temper tantrums are a part of a child’s development as the child progresses to adulthood. As the child learns language and coping strategies then the temper tantrums tend to decrease.

However, children with autism experience a higher level of stress and anxiety. Children with autism experience a world where situations are unpredictable, social cues are difficult to understand, and life seems confusing and unfair. Children with autism struggle on a daily basis with things that most of us take for granted. Due to a language and communication barrier and lack of coping strategies, the child with autism may display intense tantrums that often are described as meltdowns. Parents and caregivers of children with autism know that dealing with meltdowns is a part of their daily lives.