What's are some good ways to help a child with PDD/NOS calm down in public?

Question

I have a 5 year old with PDD/NOS {a form of Austism}. Whenever we go anywhere out in public he has major meltdowns. I usually try to avoid taking him out if he's having a bad day. But latley that hasn't been an option. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

I definitely agree with spotty that keeping him home during a bad day is not appropriate. He will have to learn, for his own good and the good of your family, to deal with the mess of going out.

However, you need to work with BABY steps. There is no magic pill that will make it easier for him. I'd really suggest a behavioral therapist or psychologist work with you, figure out the steps, figure out a reward system, and help you implement.

With our daughter, she usually could not handle the noise. Even relatively quiet places were bustling for her...flourescent lights, the hum of AC units, the echo off of the tiles. She hated walmart with a passion, and would meltdown just driving into the parking lot because she KNEW that the entry way always had a big blower going.

We did several things. One, we bought shooters muffs to help block sound. We entered by automotive so that the blowers weren't there. Most importantly we practiced until that fear of sound was gone, and until her neurology was mature enough to deal with it. We practiced just driving into the parking lot. We had fries, and even if she freaked she got them (she loves mcd fries) Then she had to stop crying to get them. Then she got them if she didn't cry. Granted this took weeks to do, but it was worth it, because she was in control, we were in control. She knew the reward was coming...lots of verbal "Oh, Breanna, you did so well. it was loud and you did okay, you tried..here are some fries". Often it was short and sweet. Good job. We made so many trips, just to park and leave!! We spent weeks just walking up to the doors, and she got the fries. When we were able to enter walmart, she got the fries. We probably spent months going into walmart, just to buy ONE thing. I always skipped things on my shopping list, so I'd have an excuse to go back for one thing. We enabled her to use words to say she was 'finished'. and we respected that so we just left the cart at the front and left. And she got more fries for trying so hard to be good.

After a year, we were able to go to walmart, with her, during the day, and buy everything we needed. We had no meltdowns, no tempers, no hurting. We used the same thing for every outing, whether it's the mall, the theater, bowling, restaurants. She behaves better than most other children (and yes, we always have fries in my purse!!!)

Good luck

Answer 2

I work with severe and profound elementary students 4 which have severe autism.  Last year I taught kindergarten with autism.  Any kind of change is very hard for them.  

They get very overstimulated in many situations which can cause trouble for them.  When an autistic student that I work with is having a major meltdown I usually give them time to cool off.  I take them to a quiet place where they can have alone time.  Turing on quiet music helps for certain of our students.  I know it's not easy to deal with in the grocery store or dentist's office.    I stay calm not getting upset myself, because that makes the meltdown worse.  

I try not to put the child in situations where there are big crowds.  I have watched with my students what triggers a meltdown and try to avoid those situations if possible.  One student goes crazy if you make him sit in a chair for long periods of time, another student gets very overstimulated during snack time if to many students are sitting at his table.  For one student I never make him sit more than 30 minutes at a time, and the other I make sure to put him at a table with only a few.

Deep pressure works well when they are going crazy.  Just as simple as a big hug or being wrapped in a blanket calms one of our students down fast.  He also likes having his hands held and squeezed.

Social stories work well in the classroom and could work well with even a parent using them at home.  You could have little papers with picture stories on them.  The story could go Mommy  has to go to the store.  I have to go with her to the store.  I get to ride in a shopping cart.  If I am good mommy will smile.  

Good luck in dealing with your child.  I know it's tough.

Answer 3

Consider his particular triggers and what is usually soothing/comforting to him.  Perhaps the hustle & bustle and all the rapidity of this season is especially unsettling to him.  Take notice if things tend to get back to "normal" as the next few weeks pass.  

If things don't get better, and especially if things get worse, you should consult someone in the know in person.  

Love him and bear with it as you can.  I don't have any form of autisim and these past few weeks have been enough to make me want to have a few meltdowns myself.  :-)

I'm sure someone with first hand experience will have some better, maybe more on target, tips for you.  Thinking good thoughts for you both!

Answer 4

I was in placment in a special needs school last year, and although i was working with 10 and 11 year olds i though i'd just tell u how we helped one autistic boy when we went on outings. His parents hadnt taken him anywhere for years because they gave in to his out bursts and eventually as he came older he became harder to control.  However the teachers insisted he came out with us most of the time when we went on a trip and although he wouls screem and shout, near the end of the year once he knew we werent going to listen and he was still going to have to come with us he seemed to be easier to manage.  However one thing they used to help with his behaviour was a thomas the tank engine book, one of his obsesions was thomas the tank engine and we would say to him, you can oly have the book if you dont cry and the book was given to him in situations he found hard to manage, ie when we went on the mini bus....and if he asked for the book at other times we would say no, its only for, going on the mini bus.   Tho the book was given to him when he was crying if he didnt calm down then we would let him know we would take the book off him if he didnt stop and if that didnt work we would take the book off him and then say you can have the book back when u stop crying, and if he started to calm down we would give him the book back.

So i guess basically what im trying to say is use something as an incentive, maybe buy him a new soft toy or train or action figure, basically something he will love and realy want to have.