How to Help a Child With Autism Calm Down |Proven Strategies and Real-Life Examples
Navigating the autism world is like learning a foreign language. It’s a vague, mysterious universe filled with unique challenges and, at the same time, remarkable rewards. Among the many tasks parents and caregivers face, calming down a child with autism can seem daunting. We’ve compiled strategies , real-life examples and tools to help guide you through those challenging moments.
How to Help a Child With Autism Calm Down
Strategy 1: Identify Triggers
Every child with autism is unique, but many have specific triggers that can lead to a meltdown or unusually high levels of stress. Recognizing these triggers is crucial in helping calm a child with autism.
Tools: Daily Journal – Keep a daily journal to record the child’s reactions in various situations and identify patterns that may help in recognizing triggers. Apps like ‘Birdhouse for Autism’ can also aid in tracking behaviours and identifying triggers
For instance, Peter, an 8-year old boy with autism, often became overwhelmed with loud noises. Upon recognizing this, his parents made a concerted effort to control the noise level in their home and prepared Peter for potential noisy situations when going out. Example Strategy: Try to minimize exposure to the identified triggers and prepare your child in advance if exposure is unavoidable.
Strategy 2: Use Visual Supports to help calm them
Visual aids like visual schedules or social stories can profoundly help a child with Autism calm down
Tools: Picture cards, visual schedules, social stories, choice boards, and chore charts are all effective visual supports. Apps such as ‘Choiceworks’ or ‘Visual Schedule Planner’ can also assist in creating digital visual support systems.
Sarah, a 10-year-old with ASD, struggled with transitions throughout her day. Her teacher introduced a visual schedule outlining her daily routine, offering reassurances of what comes next.
Example Strategy: Use sketch boards or technology apps to visually present the daily routine to prepare the child.
Strategy 3: Deep Pressure Stimulation
Deep pressure stimulation—like weighted blankets or tight hugs—can create a calming effect.
Tools: Weighted blankets or vests, deep pressure vests, pressure sensory toys, or even swaddle wraps can be used for deep pressure stimulation.
Ben, a 5-year old boy with autism, had difficulty settling down for bed. His parents introduced a weighted blanket at bedtime, which noticeably helped him relax faster. Example Strategy: Try using a weighted blanket, vest, or providing gentle, firm pressure through hugs or massages.
Strategy 4: Switch to preferred activities to help a child with Autism calm down
Tailor calming activities to align with your child’s interests or sensory preferences.
Tools: Fidget toys, coloring books, sensory bins, calming jars, puzzles, or calm-down sensory bottles can be great options for calming activities. You can also use YouTube or virtual reality gears for interactive calming videos, like aquarium or nature scenes.
For example, Charlie loved watching fish swim. Recognizing this, his parents set up a small fish tank at home, where he could observe the fish whenever he started to feel agitated.
Example Strategy: Understand your child’s interests and use tools, toys or even digital displays related to their interests at home.
How to Help a Child With Autism Calm Down? 19 Practical Tips
Strategy 5: Providing a Safe Space
Every child with autism should have a safe and comforting space where they can go when they feel overwhelmed.
Tools: A designated tent, a sensory nook with beanbags, or a hammock swing can create a safe space. Comforting items such as squishy mats, sensory lights, or soft toys can also be added.
Julia, a 6-year-old girl with autism, had a tepee in her room filled with her favorite toys and sensory items. Whenever she was upset, she retreated to her tepee, helping her regain her calm.
Example Strategy: Create a defined area in your home filled with comfort items. It could be a corner of a room, a tent, or even a certain chair.
Strategy 6: Communicate Effectively
Simplifying your language and verbal instructions can be very helpful.
In Noah’s case, a 7-year-old with autism, he often became distressed when too many instructions bombarded him at once. So, his parents learned to give him instructions one step at a time, which decreased his distress significantly.
Example Strategy: Keep instructions short, simple, and clear. Always ensure your child has processed one instruction before moving onto the next.
It’s important to remember that these tips aren’t one-size-fits-all solutions. Autism is a spectrum, and what works for one child may not work for another. But with persistence and patience, the right combination of strategies can make a world of difference. Ultimately, understanding your child and their unique traits is the best way to help them navigate their world and keep them calm.
Strategy 7: Non-Verbal Communication
Not all children with autism can communicate verbally. In such cases, alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) methods can step in.
Tools: Picture exchange communication system (PECS), sign language charts, or AAC devices such as ‘GoTalk’ or ‘Proloquo2Go’ are excellent tools for non-verbal communication.
Consider Liam, a nonverbal 9-year-old with autism. His parents introduced him to picture exchange communication system (PECS), which allows him to express his needs by swapping pictures. Example Strategy: Explore AAC tools such as sign language, PECS, or speech-generating devices.
19 Practical Strategies To help a child with Autism Calm Down
- Focused Breathing: Teach your child to take slow, deep breaths when they feel upset.
- Create a Safe Word: A word that means it’s time to take a break or time to engage in a calming activity.
- Try Movement: Encourage jumping on a trampoline or go for a walk.
- Use Weighted blankets: These blankets can provide a sense of security and grounding.
- Aromatherapy: Certain aromatic oils like lavender can have a calming effect.
- Sensory Box: Fill a box with objects of various textures, shapes, and sizes.
- Introduce Soft Music: Calming sounds or white noise can help soothe them.
- Visual Imagery: Use calming Images or videos.
- Pet Therapy: Interacting with a pet can provide comfort.
- Lego Building: Engaging in structured play can calm the mind.
- Gentle Swinging: In a hammock or swing chair, rhythmic motion can soothe.
- Squeeze Balls/ Therapy Slime: They can be a good stress reliever.
- Allow Doodling: Drawing or coloring can be therapeutic.
- Offer Healthy Snacks.
- Water Play: A calming bath or playing with water can be relaxing.
- Massage: Gentle massages can provide a sense of relaxation.
- Playing with Sand: Sand play can have a grounding effect.
- Yoga: Simple yoga poses and stretches can calm the mind.
- Creating their own Calming Jar: Shaking and seeing the sparkles settle can be calming.
Just as with the strategies earlier, remember that each child is unique. These techniques may not all work for your child.
Next: For Autism Parents | Strategies For Coping with the Stress and What is an autism meltdown?
