Strategies to Help Your Child During Sensory Meltdown
A tantrum is a developmentally appropriate thing for a child. Generally, kids show tantrums when they want something and are not allowed to get their favorite thing or activity, or they are asked to do something that they don’t want to do. Sensory meltdown is caused by too much sensory input; it causes overstimulation in the body, and the nervous system can go into fight, flight, freeze mode.
What to do when your kid is throwing a tantrum?
Sit down with your kid, talk with them, and use logic and reasoning to help them get through; in some cases, just let them show a tantrum to validate their feelings and to make them feel heard and seen. It’s necessary to make firm and kind boundaries to tackle tantrums.
What to do during a sensory meltdown of your kid?
During a sensory meltdown, the child’s body is in fight-or-flight mode. A lot of talking with the kid to calm down the things will not work and only will aggravate the situation. During a sensory meltdown, it’s necessary for parents and caregivers to be proactive throughout the day to make sure the sensory needs of the child are met by incorporating more of the preferred sensory activities.
Creating a calm down or sensory corner for the kid with their favorite activities in it and soft blankets and walls will help them in calming down. A quiet and enclosed space where, during a meltdown, a child can decompress and breathe can help them calm down during a meltdown.
