How we helped our son cope with his meltdowns part 2

by sharon

We also purchased a trampoline and when we started noticing our son getting a meltdown we use to take him outside to play on his trampoline .It deffinately calmed him down because he seemed to forget why he was so angry in the first place it also was a good thing to tire him out on.

Our son also had a fear of large crowds of people and loud noise. Taking him shopping was an absolute nightmare.Lucky for us the big superstores were open 24hrs and we use to go early in the morning when there wern't so many people about.He use to love having the freedom to push the trolley and put the food in the trolley. Gradually each week we went later and later and he seemed to cope with a few more people there and the noise.We eventually gave him a shopping list and he would tick off the grocerries as he put them in the trolley. We don't think he even noticed that more and more people were there because he had something to occupy him. he now goes shopping with his father and takes charge and i never have to worry about my shopping bill, it has also now become part of his routine.
Sometimes all these children need is to be shown compasion and understanding, i also think society needs to be more aware of autism as it is on the increase and maybe then they wouldn't be quick to treat us like bad parents. Sometimes you have to be cruel to be kind to help these children and persiverence is deffinately a big part of helping them. You also have to try to make these children understand that what you are doing is helping them.Some of these stratagies may not help all autistic children, but we have learned that they do not get disstressed for no reason at all. There is always something that will trigger their behaviour and as parent we know our children better than anyone and we have to find ways to help them deal with their fears, anger and frustation and eventually they will realize like our son has that everything we do is to make him happier.