Are you looking for Calming Techniques for Autistic Children? You’re in the right place! These top five tips will help relieve your child’s anxiety and stress.
This post has been sponsored by Namaste Blankets
When your emotions are overwhelming and you cannot express what you need, it’s an awful feeling. Meltdowns can happen for a variety of reasons such as transitions, stress, anxiety or even too much sensory input.
Calming Techniques for Autistic Children
Seeing your child struggling is heart-wrenching. Not only are the meltdowns themselves painful, but they also leave you exhausted beyond belief. Knowing how to help your child through these tough emotions will help make life a little easier for your child.
Check out these 5 Amazing Calming Techniques for Autistic Children.
Deep Pressure
Have you ever woken up on a cold morning under heavy winter blankets? If so, you’ll probably remember that warm, calm feeling and not wanting to get out of bed! That’s the feeling of how deep pressure works to help the nervous system.
DeepPressure is one of the top calming techniques for Autistic children. It is where weight or touch is used to help people who have sensory sensitivity. One way to do this at home is by using weighted blankets and other weighted tools.
When your child is feeling stressed, anxious, or overloaded, using a weighted blanket can help them calm down faster and reduce their anxiety.
Calm Down Space
We all need a space to call out own, and that includes autistic children. Every child is different but learning their sensory needs will help you create a perfect space. No matter their sensory need, they can immensely benefit from a calming space to relax and cool down.
Creating a calming space for your child with autism, ADHD, sensory processing, or other disabilities is essential for allowing them to self-regulate. Click here to learn how to create a calming space for your autistic child.
Calming Breathing Exercises
Next up on our list of Calming Techniques for Autistic Children is using breathing exercises. Breath control is one of the quickest and easiest ways to get a child back to using their executive function skills.
Deep breathing can be used at almost any age level. The key is to teach your child breathing techniques while they are in a positive mood so that they can use those techniques when upset, anxious, or angry.
Sometimes though, it is hard to remember to use the techniques at the moment. Mightier is a great tool that helps teach children self-regulation with our biofeedback games. It teaches them how to use those breathing techniques before they get into the red zone.
Sensory Tools
Having the right tools can make a world of difference when it comes to any job, and helping your child is no different. When it comes to calming techniques for autistic children, having sensory tools on hand is a must!
Depending on your child’s sensory needs, here are a few items that can help resolve and even prevent a meltdown:
- Sunglasses
- Noise-canceling headphones
- Fidget Tools
- Sensory Bottles
- Squish Bags
- Weighted Lap pad
- Body Socks
Distraction
The feeling of being out of control of your emotions is awful. When your child is in the midst of a meltdown, it’s usually because their attention is focused on something currently unattainable. Distracting isn’t about giving them the unattainable. It’s about changing their thought process.
“Whoa! What is on your dinosaurs back! Is that a piece of glitter?!”
Sometimes, the best course of action Is distraction.
Calming Techniques for Autistic Children
When it comes to helping your child, both before and after a meltdown, the key is being patient. Some meltdowns just have to run their course. Make sure your child is in a safe place until they run their emotions run down. Afterward, work on determining the cause and discuss ways to prevent future meltdowns.
