| Sometimes children with Autism get upset so fast. It is | | | | She would come meet me and we would go on. It |
| almost impossible to get to them before a melt down. | | | | was like she had forgotten what she was having a |
| This is the times it pays to have a tool box of | | | | tantrum about. |
| de-escalation skills ready. The de-escalation skills can | | | | Another skill some parents can use is humor. Some |
| be a life saver. One of the skills might be as simple as | | | | people think a child with Autism does not have a |
| having a favorite toy or smell. The skill part of this one | | | | sense of humor. Just like anyone else some do and |
| is that a parent has to be rock solid not to use it any | | | | some don't. Sometimes my child would be talking to |
| other time. | | | | me and seem to get upset for no reason. I would start |
| It was very tempting to use the toy or smell at other | | | | a nonsense discussion. She eventually learned to |
| times. If you want it to work consistently you can not | | | | recognize it as fun. |
| do that. Another skill might be a specific way of holding | | | | For example if I want her to do something she does |
| a child with Autism. Sometimes when my daughter | | | | not want to do we, even now, have some nonsense |
| would start to tantrum she would fall on the floor and | | | | discussion. Like I might say "If you don't....., I'm gonna give |
| kick. If I could get to her before she hit the floor I could | | | | it to a dead man!" Yes it was nonsense, but we had |
| grab her and hold her with her arms between us. As | | | | done it and laughed over the years. She would laugh |
| soon as she relaxed I could let her go and we could | | | | and do whatever it was I wanted. Eventually parents |
| go on. | | | | can learn a variety of de-escalation skills. Some |
| As she got older and would hit the floor during a | | | | parents can steal from people who have been there, |
| tantrum I used a different skill. I would walk away. I | | | | done that. Some parents can and will learn on their |
| was just out of her sight but I could see her. When | | | | own. |
| people would go by and look at her she would get up. | | | | |