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Calming Techniques for Autistic Children

In order to understand what calming techniques will work, you will first need to determine what things excite and upset the child, and have some understanding of the context in which he is throwing a tantrum.

Occasionally the youngster may exhibit a behavior problem at school but not at home, or vice versa. For example, parents may have already developed a strategy to stop the behavior at home, but the teacher is unaware of this strategy. It is important that the parent and teacher discuss the youngster’s behavioral problems since one of them may have already discovered a solution to handle the behavior.


10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Usually I tell my eight year old to "stop" and just keep repeating it calmly until he does. It usually works better than announcing consequences.

Anonymous said...

My seven year old was doing really well for the last year using some of these techniques, but now it seems his violent tantrums are returning. He can become instantly angry, throws things, bangs his head, hits, screams. It is exhausting for both of us and the old calm down techniques just aren't working. I think a new teacher and new expectations at school are a major culprit in this. By the time he comes home he is done. Sometimes I think with Asperger's we are all just constantly fishing for the next thing that will help. Thanks for giving us such a large informative pond to fish in!

Anonymous said...

I have a student who is in 8th grade, very bright. She consistently curls the bottom corner of her papers up and rips off the corner piece (taking off a good portion of the ditto sheet her teachers have given her). We have tried to give her squeeze balls, post its that she could tear up, but nothing is working.

Do you have any suggestions as to how to help her.

Anonymous said...

It wont help to tell him to calm down. Autistic children cannot remember what calm feels like when in a rage. We take photos of our son when he is calm and put them onto a large piece of paper pinned up, by seeing hia calm photos you can then say "look how calm you were doing ......." and as they manage better with visual learning this should help.

Anonymous said...

My son was awful in reception had a year from hell but as he's got older he's brilliant but still the occasional meltdown. I do physically put my arms around him and get him to count to ten which helps bring his temper down. I then take him away from the situation which could be if in the house the stairs or if out a quiet place and we talk when he says he's ready. At school he used to hide behind a chair when he knew he was getting anxious but each child is so different best advice is talk to the teachers etc but you know your child best so just try things and something will work for you eventually. A lady I met on the course has got a body stocking which her son can see out of but you can't see him and that works for her good luck it does get better x

Anonymous said...

I know what you are going through they can get very bad. Try something to distract him it helps my almost 5 year old if I tell him to come feel the texture of something or look at all the colors. Tends to calm him down! Or take him out of the environment that is causing the meltdown I will take my son outside or into a different room. Sensory change is the best!

Anonymous said...

yeah you may need to get him into another class that is more equipped for him, and seek support groups for you and your family.

Anonymous said...

we had my son walk... the school let him walk around the gymnasium... at home we walked around the house literally around the outside of the house, till he could calm down... only worked with my oldest aspie though

Anonymous said...

My grandsonand nephew have Aspergers. My husband, a retired Elementary school Principal, suggests using a bean bag chair. Have the child sit in the bean bag and relax. The bag is soothing because it surrounds them and is comforting. Seems to work well.

Unknown said...

My daughter is autistic, but despite her learning disabilities, I have always been determined to help her learn and grown as much as she possibly can. I went online and researched the different toys for autistic children that are offered on the toy market right now. I spent a lot of money that day ( oops! ), but I found a lot of different kinds of toys that my daughter can play with, but still simulate her learning.

My child has been rejected by his peers, ridiculed and bullied !!!

Social rejection has devastating effects in many areas of functioning. Because the ASD child tends to internalize how others treat him, rejection damages self-esteem and often causes anxiety and depression. As the child feels worse about himself and becomes more anxious and depressed – he performs worse, socially and intellectually.

Click here to read the full article…

How to Prevent Meltdowns in Children on the Spectrum

Meltdowns are not a pretty sight. They are somewhat like overblown temper tantrums, but unlike tantrums, meltdowns can last anywhere from ten minutes to over an hour. When it starts, the Asperger's or HFA child is totally out-of-control. When it ends, both you and your child are totally exhausted. But... don’t breathe a sigh of relief yet. At the least provocation, for the remainder of that day -- and sometimes into the next - the meltdown can return in full force.

Click here for the full article...

Parenting Defiant Teens on the Spectrum

Although Aspergers [high-functioning autism] is at the milder end of the autism spectrum, the challenges parents face when disciplining a teenager on the spectrum are more difficult than they would be with an average teen. Complicated by defiant behavior, the teen is at risk for even greater difficulties on multiple levels – unless the parents’ disciplinary techniques are tailored to their child's special needs.

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Older Teens and Young Adult Children with ASD Still Living At Home

Your older teenager or young “adult child” isn’t sure what to do, and he is asking you for money every few days. How do you cut the purse strings and teach him to be independent? Parents of teens with ASD face many problems that other parents do not. Time is running out for teaching their adolescent how to become an independent adult. As one mother put it, "There's so little time, yet so much left to do."

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Parenting Children and Teens with High-Functioning Autism

Two traits often found in kids with High-Functioning Autism are “mind-blindness” (i.e., the inability to predict the beliefs and intentions of others) and “alexithymia” (i.e., the inability to identify and interpret emotional signals in others). These two traits reduce the youngster’s ability to empathize with peers. As a result, he or she may be perceived by adults and other children as selfish, insensitive and uncaring.

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to read the full article...

Highly Effective Research-Based Parenting Strategies for Children with Asperger's and HFA

Become an expert in helping your child cope with his or her “out-of-control” emotions, inability to make and keep friends, stress, anger, thinking errors, and resistance to change.

Click here for the full article...