Meltdowns  – How To Calm My Child After a Meltdown

By Stuart Ackerman  MSc.Ed.,B.A.

     Your ADD/ADHD child is almost finished his meltdown.  What can you do to help him completely calm down?

1.      Get your child to take some deep breaths and slowly count to 10.  Try to practice this deep breathing at times when your child is happy and willing.  The practice will make the real meltdown seem less alien to him when the time comes.

2.      Have your child go to a ‘physically active place’ in the house.  If possible, set up part of your basement (or an   extra room) with soft toys (e.g. a kid’s blow up punching bag, nerf toys, soft balls, and even some mats on the floor) so that your child can let loose.  Make sure nothing in that room is breakable and make sure that your child cannot hurt himself.  This ‘release’ room will help your child get out that extra energy and anger.

3.      Give your child a hug.  Physical closeness often calms down ADD/ADHD children.  Soft touching and caressing is very calming and creates a sense of security (after all, a meltdown is a sign of a lack of control, hence insecurity).

4.      Have your child go to his quite place.  Create a place in your home that is ONLY for your child (e.g. a hiding place somewhere in his room, a nook in the basement with his comics, etc…).  This might give your child the comfort and security he needs in order to calm down.

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