There are tools you can have in your back pocket so you can address meltdowns when they are happening, and can shorten the duration and intensity of a meltdown. And, actually, there are sound principles that can help children in the midst of a meltdown. The thing is that sensory overload is one of the leading causes of sensory meltdowns, but it is far from the only cause.

If any of these questions sound familiar, I’ve got a resource for you. Sometimes, just knowing that others have the same questions is so helpful. How can they help their child without “losing it” themselves. Parents often wonder how they can better recognize the signs of sensory overload so they can prevent it from happening in the first place.Ī big question parents have is how they can stay calm in the moment when their child is in the midst of a meltdown. Still other questions that parents have regarding meltdowns is how to better understand their child and help them feel accepted? What can cause a child to act out so physically with hitting, spitting, head banging, biting, scratching, and yelling? These actions are physically and emotionally exhausting for both you and your child. Parents often feel like their child is just trying to get attention, and that it’s behavioral rather than sensory related.Īnother question that parents often have is regarding the aggressive behaviors they see from their child. You wonder if maybe you’re Googling the wrong things or if there is something you’ve missed. Or, maybe you know your child’s meltdowns are sensory related, but nothing you’ve tried seems to work. You can’t seem to figure out what the triggers are. Many times, parents see meltdowns that seem to come out of nowhere. Parents wonder if the behaviors their child has is a temper tantrum or if it is a response to sensory overload and having a meltdown. If this sounds familiar, you might be questioning if your child’s behavior is sensory or if it’s defiant behavior. Parents often times feel overwhelmed or stressed with how to respond to their child’s meltdowns. Sometimes just knowing you are not alone in your questions and concerns is helpful! So, those questions that oftentimes come up include: Below are listed some common sensory questions that parents have. There are so many common questions that parents have about sensory processing and sensory meltdowns. You can define and discover their triggers.Īll of this makes sense, right? But if working as a pediatric occupational therapist has taught me anything, it’s that addressing feelings of overwhelm with sensory processing take some time. Not only that, but getting an understanding along with your child of that sensory meltdown gives you both specific strategies and tactics to help overcome those sensory meltdowns the next time they might occur. Having the ability to compose oneself following a meltdown and really understand what might have caused that overload empowers your child so that they can discover their own self-regulation strategies. So, having the resources and tools available to help a child debrief after a meltdown is crucial.ĭebriefing with your child after a meltdown is such an important step for both of you. There’s more Once you’ve got a handle on really understanding a meltdown and the specifics on what might cause them, it’s important to know how to help the child that does launch into meltdown mode.īecause, even with all of the understanding in your back pocket, there will still be those moments where a meltdown is inevitable. Understanding what’s really going on behind a meltdown is the key component to helping children who struggle with sensory overload. There are also many sensory diet tools and resources here on this website, which can be valuable resources for the child with sensory processing challenges.īut all of these strategies, resources, and tools can be inconsequential if you are missing an important piece of the sensory puzzle.

I’ve also shared many meltdown tips and tricks to address sensory meltdowns in children, as well as coping tools and sensory strategies that can help children.

I’ve shared before the difference between a sensory meltdown vs a tantrum…but that defining line can be hazy when it comes to sensory overload.

Sensory meltdown in toddlers