![]() When you're responding to an aggressive toddler, try to focus on teaching, not punishing. Next up, you’ll learn six steps for how to deal with an aggressive child. In the early years, they're still learning how to deal with big emotions. As they grow, the part of the brain that helps us process feelings and experiences (the prefrontal cortex) gets stronger. Toddlers are likely to be driven by the "fight, flight, or freeze" part of the brain when experiencing stress. When this happens, they're less able to calm themselves and self-regulate.Īge and Development: Young children’s brains are still in the early stages of development. When children experience a stressful event, such as separation, loss, or witnessing a traumatic event, they may struggle to cope with the big feelings. Life Experiences: Major life changes or big experiences can lead to an increase in aggressive behavior. Their sensory needs are stronger than their logic, so telling them to stop hitting or biting won't help them make a better decision. They may love the feeling of moving into things with great force, including people. Some children are “sensory seekers." They crave sensory input. Sensory system: Highly sensitive children who are uncomfortable with people physically close may bite to keep others away. Temperament: Excitable, physical, and/or highly active children are more likely to struggle with impulse control. What do sensory meltdowns look like?Īll children react differently, but behaviour you might see during a sensory meltdown includes children covering their eyes or ears or shutting down and refusing to move.There are a few important factors to keep in mind that make it more likely that a child will act with aggression: Where do sensory meltdowns happen?Īll sorts of situations can lead to sensory meltdowns: parties, fireworks displays, changes of routine or even just too many changes of activity in a short space of time. This is how it feels for a child having a sensory meltdown. Imagine what that is like but far, far more intense, as you experience these things for the very first time and are still trying to make sense of the world around you. It’s not behaviour that can be controlled or stopped through better understanding of their feelings and emotions, instead it’s a reaction to the environment around them.Ī good way to understand it is to think of times when you’ve felt overwhelmed by a busy, loud, bright, smelly environment. But remember, this is not your child behaving badly, so cut yourself a break.Īlthough it can look like a temper tantrum, a sensory meltdown is when a child reacts to overstimulation through sights, sounds, tastes, textures and sounds. It's difficult, especially when a meltdown happens in public. Tell your child in advance that it might be noisy, ask them to say if it's getting too much, and bring along their favourite cuddly toy. Think about environments that may be over-stimulating and plan for them, or when routines change, or going to a crowded place, such as a shopping centre. If possible move your child away from the environment they're reacting to.Ĭan you find somewhere gentler on their ears, eyes, and other senses? Somewhere quieter and less busy with lower lighting. You being calm can help your child calm down.ĭuring a meltdown they won't be able to take in too many words, so encourage and show them how to breathe in and out slowly. But how can you manage this when everything is so sensitive? A child having a sensory meltdown often wants quiet and calm. It's reacting to the environment, and it's often beyond their control.Ī child to stop having a tantrum, usually when they get what they want. A sensory meltdown is an overload to the brain by too much stimulation from lights, sounds, sights, tastes, and textures. ![]() Tantrums often happen out of frustration. ![]() That's what having a sensory meltdown can feel like for a child.Ī sensory meltdown is very different to a tantrum. ![]() Well imagine that feeling multiplied thousands of times. You know that overloaded feeling you get when you're in a really busy shop, or when everyone's talking far too loudly? ![]()
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