Today, guest blogger Amy Stout wraps up her series about what triggers sensory meltdowns in kids with sensory issues and strategies parents can use to help them cope. In this final post, she addresses issues that didn’t fit in Part 1, Part 2, or Part 3. Hopefully, you’ll find this post as full of practical information as the other three!

Sensory Meltdowns: Triggers and Coping Strategies,
Part 4

Strategies that Work in Numerous Scenarios and Situations

• Deep Joint Pressure Many children crave or need deep joint pressure. After experiencing this kind of stimulation, they are able to focus, concentrate, and cope much better. A great way to obtain joint pressure is by jumping (a mini tramp with handle works great), chewing on a chewy tube, trapeze swinging, climbing and “heavy work” (pushing a wagon or pulling a wagon of heavy toys or books, helping to carry in groceries, etc).
• For children who crave sensory textures: sand play, Play Dough, water play, popcorn box (Rubbermaid box full of popcorn kernels to scoop and pour), Moon Sand play, Bubber play, Bath foam, Shaving Gel, Orbeez, Theraputty and etc.
• Chomping and Sucking: My daughter usually calms quickly if she can suck on a lollipop or chew on ice.
• Squeezing or Sandwiching: My daughter loves to be squeezed between cushions or pillows. We also do a family hug that she calls “Hug Hide” (because you can’t see her when my husband and I hug with her between us). She also loves when we sit really close on the couch and she is in between (being squeezed).
• Regulate Temperature: We love Cherry Pit Packs as they can be cooled or heated (you can even select the fabric). My daughter will often hold one or sleep with one.

When your child starts to “lose it” in, what I call, a “Grand Mal” Meltdown, it is very difficult to step back and try to analyze what the triggers could be. But if you do, you will start to realize patterns in their behavior and what led up to the meltdown. You will also learn techniques and ways to anticipate the meltdown so that you can hopefully avoid many of them in the future.

When Sensory Meltdowns Occur, Remember the Following

• Safety should be the utmost priority. If your child is thrashing, move your child to the center of the room away from furniture or toys that can hurt.
• Ensure safety of other children or adults.
• Assure your child that it is okay to be angry or upset, but it is NOT okay to lash out at others. We need to be kind to our friends. (I often empathize with my daughter and tell her that I am so sorry that she is sad/hurting/upset – I really think she knows that I am genuine and instead of viewing me as an enemy, she sees that I care about her.)
• Remain calm. Speak quietly or don’t speak at all. Sometimes, just stepping outside the room helps to calm things very quickly. Stay close so you can monitor safety though.
• Turn down lights, Turn off sounds, and dig into your treasure chest of experience to offer chewy tubes, sensory items, or ice for calming.
• Try not to worry about what others are thinking, but if you need to, simply tell them that your child is having a hard time and that you apologize if you are disturbing them. Most people will be understanding, and for those who are not, maybe they will read this article and realize that there is more to good parenting than meets the eye. Some of our jobs are a tad bit more difficult than others.
• When this occurs in our home, sometimes, I will stop what I am doing and pray aloud for my daughter. I want to reinforce that we have a Heavenly Father who loves us, who cares and who will help if we but ask.

When it is all over, make sure your child knows you are not angry, but that you want to help them through this very difficult time. Embrace your child (if she will allow it) and assure her of your unconditional love and your willingness to walk through this challenge with her.

What Can You Add about Sensory Meltdowns?

Guest blogger Amy Stout’s series covered a lot of ground. But perhaps you’ve dealt with sensory meltdownd caused by a trigger she didn’t mention. If so, leave a comment about what happened and how you helped your child cope. And be sure to visit Amy’s site at http://histreasuredprincess.blogspot.com for more information, humor, and inspiration.

Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four

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