• Home
  • The Book
  • Videos
  • About
  • + Services
    • Nonprofit Virtual Board Training
    • Board Leadership
    • Board Recruitment
    • Board Training
    • Board Responsibilities
    • Board Governance
    • Strategic Planning
    • Board Retreats
    • Fundraising
    • Risk Management
    • Capacity Building
    • Executive Coaching
    • Nonprofit Mergers
  • Blog
  • Calendar
  • Testimonials
  • Nonprofit Resources
  • + Contact Us
    • Privacy Policy
Navigation
Nonprofit Kinect Consultants - Cynder Sinclair

805-689-2137
Call today for your free consultation!

  

  • Home
  • The Book
  • Videos
  • About
  • Services
  • Blog
  • Calendar
  • Testimonials
  • Nonprofit Resources
  • Contact Us
Home > Nonprofit Resources > Nonprofit - Education > Managing Autism Meltdowns, Tantrums, and Agression

Managing Autism Meltdowns, Tantrums, and Agression

What is an autism meltdown?

A meltdown is defined as an intense reaction to sensory overwhelm. When a child with autism is overwhelmed, he/she knows no other way to express it other than with a meltdown. This might involve emotional verbal outbursts such as screaming and crying or physical reactions like kicking, biting, or hitting.

Meltdown vs temper tantrum

Although they may look similar, meltdowns are different from temper tantrums. A temper tantrum is usually a child’s method for getting what he/she wants. A meltdown, however, has no purpose and is beyond a child’s control.

To be more specific, a temper tantrum happens when a child is:

  • Frustrated with not getting what he/she wants
  • Not able to do what he/she wants
  • Not able to properly communicate

A child might stop a tantrum after the following responses:

  • Being comforted by a parent or caregiver
  • Being given what he/she wants (although not an ideal strategy)
  • Being ignored and giving up on his/her own

Youngsters who throw temper tantrums are aware and in control of their actions and can adjust the level of their tantrum based on the response they get from a parent or adult. Here we can use behavioral strategies to manage tantrums.

Meltdowns have entirely different causes. Because they are triggered by sensory overload, a child on the spectrum having a meltdown can have a few defining characteristics.

Read the rest of the article here.

Visit site

  • Home
  • About
  • Ask Cynder
  • Blog
  • Calendar
  • Testimonials
  • Nonprofit Resources
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
Nonprofit Kinect
Nonprofit Kinect creates high-performing nonprofits by optimizing leadership and sustainability through enhanced board leadership, strategic fundraising, and solid capacity building.
805-689-2137

© 2022 Nonprofit Kinect | Cynder Sinclair, D.M. | Serving Santa Barbara County

website design by Ameravant