Differences between Tantrums and Meltdowns It is very important for parents and teachers to understand the differences between tantrums and meltdowns. Although they can consist of similar behavior (yelling, screaming, crying, dropping to the floor, flailing, hitting or biting self, etc.), it is important to distinguish between the two. Why? Because it has major implications for how we interpret the behavior and how we intervene to help the child. Tantrums With tantrums the child usually has: 1. Some control over the behavior. 2. Chooses to engage in the behavior. 3. Usually occurs specific to wanting something or escaping something he doesn’t want. 4. Can end quickly once he gets what he wants. 5. Child can focus on others around him; often looking at them, yelling at them, and drawing their attention to him. 6. Looks for reactions from others when being disruptive. 7. May have the ability to talk and negotiate, although yelling and demanding. 8. If aggression is displayed he will often seek out others to hit or kick, or get up and seek out property to disrupt. Usually the behavior is a means to an end (wants something or to avoid something) and the child acts out to get a specific reaction from others. Although tantrums can lead to being overwhelmed, they usually start under the control of the child. Tantrums often occur in nonverbal children when they lack other ways of communicating and getting needs met. The child will often calm down once he gets want he wants or feels that he needs. Meltdowns Meltdowns usually occur when the child’s brain is overwhelmed with stress chemicals and has reached the panic, flight or fight stress reaction. The stress builds up to the point that the brain overwhelms and loses the ability to cope. With meltdowns the child usually: 1. Appears to be in panic mode. 2. Does not appear to have control over their behavior. 3. Often cannot talk or problem solve; loses ability to negotiate or reason. 4. Often cannot follow directions or argue; too overwhelmed to engage. 5. Feels “unsafe” and appear to be reacting out of deep fear. 6. May be difficult to identify the cause of emotion, or obvious “want or demand.” 7. Often occurs from sensory overload, too much cognitive stress, or ongoing social demands that tax and drain the brain. 8. Usually is trying to flee or escape the situation around him, rather than seeking out attention. Child is seeking to escape what is overwhelming him, not seeking to gain something. 9. Usually do not hit, kick, or bite others unless others approach and attempt to calm or redirect. Aggression often subsides when you back away, give them space, remove demands, and withdrawal all interactions. 10. Can take a while to calm down (rather than calming immediately when they get what they want); need time to escape and rebound. 11. Often expresses remorse for actions afterwards. The child in a meltdown is reacting out of fright and fear. The “fight or flight” panic reaction is set off, and the child is (1) trying to escape the source of stress, and (2) seeking proprioception (hitting, kicking, biting self, head banging, etc.) to release stress chemicals. He often does not want to interact with others, is not seeking their attention, and often wants to withdraw and isolate. However, if the child does not feel like he is safe he may act out on property or others to get people to back off, or to release stress chemicals. Rylan has both meltdown and tantrum. Meltdown from sensory overload and still tantruming due to his developmental challenges.
Posted on: Sat, 26 Apr 2014 10:57:08 +0000
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