Not just for people who work with special needs, but for all who have children with special needs, and need ideas when coping with tantrums. From about Got Tantrums? By Jerry Webster If you work with children with autism or who have trouble with self regulation (many children with ADHD) you know that tantrums are not confined to 3 and 4 year olds. I found an excellent resource through School Specialty, a Special Education Blog called My Special Needs. A recent article presented an excellent anagram for dealing with trantrumming: PREVENT. P: Prevention Adequate sleep. Well balanced meals Wellness. No signs of sickness. Orderly transitions with visual schedules provided for the child. Auditory cues in advance of when transition is to occur. Consistency in routine and expectations. Sensory buffet, including heavy work and movement activities every two hours. R: React (During a tantrum) Minimize the sensory stimulation. Soften lights, dampen other noises and create a visual barrier to bring the space to a manageable size. Dont react to the tantrum with emotion (even if you havent had adequate sleep or meals!) Exude c-a-l-m. Acknowledge childs frustration and say that you will listen later, when things are quiet. Stay adjacent, but dont give attention to the child. Leave the room if this helps. Some children benefit from the deep pressure of a beanbag chair, or being wrapped tightly in a blanket. Read the childs sensory cues to determine if this is helping. E: Empathy Empathy, not sympathy. Understand that feeling out of control does not feel good to the child. The time to educate and develop insight is never during the tantrum. Self-calming skills and insight are objectives to be worked on when the tantrum is not happening. V: Vent Handling tantrums can be challenging and stressful. Vent to your friends AFTER its over, being respectful of yourself and the child. E: Encourage Find the teaching moment. Later, encourage children that emotions are tricky, but they can learn how to manage how they are feeling. Teach calming and self-regulation techniques that are age appropriate. N: Nice Behavior CATCH It! Give praise when a child handles disappointment appropriately. And especially when the child engages in the calming techniques they discovered or were taught. T. Teach Teach the parents, paraprofessional and other team members the strategies that have been effective with the child. Teach P.R.E.V.E.N.T.
Posted on: Tue, 15 Jul 2014 02:08:26 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015