16 Simple Ways to "Prevent" Meltdowns in Kids on the Autism Spectrum
"Is there a way for parents of children with ASD to prevent meltdowns from happening in the first place? I ask because once my autistic son (level 1) gets up a head of steam, there's no way of getting him to calm down." It is much easier to prevent meltdowns than it is to manage them once they have erupted. Here are 16 tips for preventing meltdowns and some things parents can say to their high-functioning autistic children: 1. When visiting new places or unfamiliar people explain to the youngster beforehand what to expect. Say, “Stay with your assigned buddy in the museum.” 2. Signal kids on the autism spectrum before you reach the end of an activity so that they can get prepared for the transition. Say, “When the timer goes off 5 minutes from now it will be time to turn off the TV and go to bed.” 3. Reward them for positive attention rather than negative attention. During situations when they are prone to meltdowns, catch them whe