PDA Parenting

Last week I did a mini-post on my Facebook page that seems to have been popular – I guess it’s the nearest I’ve ever got to something going viral!

In relation to my usual audience reach, this has way bypassed the usual ratings and has sparked conversations (and heated debates!) with those who wouldn’t usually read the blog.

So I thought it would be important to talk about it a bit further and why it struck so many chords.

I wrote the post, from the perspective of my seven year old daughter and what she normally says, when people stare at her during a meltdown.

These were her words that she always uses and many other parents commented to say it described exactly their own children.

The meltdown happened in a public place, like it does for so many other families, it causes everyone around to stop and watch the action unfold.

Not only is it difficult for the child during a meltdown, but also it can feel traumatising for the adult who is trying to calm the situation down.

I can personally cope with getting emotionally abused by my daughter, I am able to live with being attacked and my property even being damaged, but the moment when people stare and judge it hurts me far deeper.

I do realise that not all those viewers will be making opinions, but in the moment of being under heightened pressure, it’s all I can see.

And sometimes people will stop, rooted to the spot, not always knowing what to do or how they can help. Their intention is there but without having a plan of action, they too, also freeze and continue to watch.

It can feel like a thousand eyes are piercing your skin, sending feelings of pain across your already assaulted senses.

And that’s from the carer’s perspective, I can’t begin to imagine how it feels for the person who is actually locked in overload.

Sometimes, sadly, those looks do unfortunately come with judgements based on bias and from a lack of understanding – as a parent I often feel brandished as ‘the mum.’

Other times, those looks may serve a purpose as a voyeuristic event, particularly when others’ lives are uneventful or mundane.

The excitement to have something to gossip about takes over whilst forgetting that these are real people with real feelings who would prefer to have their privacy and dignity still in tact.

So what would we prefer others to do instead? How can we help someone in meltdown?

In the Facebook post a lovely teaching assistant said that when a child is in meltdown she always tries to get them to a safe place, even if this means getting down to their level and crawling on the floor with them.

Finding what works for each individual is key but in the mean time here are some…

Quick tips that might help in a meltdown

🌟 Try to offer a smile.

🌟 If possible you can clear the space and help to make an exit way for those dealing with the situation.

🌟 If younger children begin to watch, try using a script such as “let’s not watch xxx , he may be feeling a bit upset right now and needs time to recover.”

🌟 Ongoing work will need to be done with peers, friends, family and staff so that they can try to accept what has happened and move on from the situation. It is not easy to deal with and may affect everyone involved. Emotional well-being is also of the utmost importance.

🌟 If the adult dealing with the overload is a parent and has other siblings then you could try to provide the other children with some comfort. Siblings can often be forgotten but may also be struggling emotionally when witnessing a brother or sister in meltdown. It might also be one less thing for that parent to deal with so that they can focus entirely on the child in need.

🌟 It may be a teacher who needs you to take control of other students and move them away or usurp them of their duties until things are calm once again. A collaborative, team approach is essential for the success of helping to restore calm once again.

🌟 You might offer a space for the adult/child that will feel more contained and safe to prevent crowds from gathering.

🌟 If the person in overload shouts, swears, insults or attacks try to not make eye contact or respond back – avoid getting into a battle of confrontation as a way of controlling the situation.

🌟 Try to use a warm, gentle tone of voice and remember to not remind them of what it is they are upset about or to try to reason with them. There is an underlying emotion driving this meltdown, it is there regardless of whether it’s obvious on the outside.

🌟 Do not give them a direct demand e.g to fix the damage they have done or tell them to apologise – this will only incite the incident further.

🌟 Try to offer reassurance, love and compassion – nobody wants to feel judged when they are upset and out of control of their actions.

🌟 Don’t tower above them as this creates even more fear.

🌟 Try to think what might have been at the root of the individual’s upset rather than only focusing on the behaviour.

🌟 Remember, when a child with additional needs is in overload, they are not merely having a ‘tantrum.’

🌟 A meltdown is often a response to a perceived sense of fear or loss of control and is not a reaction that has been chosen.

🌟 The person will not be in full control of their actions and often won’t be able to recall how the event unfolded, even if those behaviours ‘appear’ to be deliberate.

🌟 A meltdown is better understood as a panic attack and something that doesn’t need punishing – instead we need to look at ways to prevent them from happening.

🌟 Confronting someone will only make the situation worse and for the original emotion to become even more heightened.

🌟 Children and adults in meltdown feel enough guilt, shame and embarrassment about their own actions, there is no need to add to this even further.

🌟 Self-esteem could be incredibly low afterwards, so finding ways to remind the individual about all of the positives about them is paramount to the cycle not repeating.

🌟 Embarrassment and shock can set in after a meltdown, particularly when a meltdown has gathered so many onlookers.

🌟 It can lead to further anxiety and fear to avoid repeating the experience.

🌟 If it happens in a school environment, it may lead to school refusal or bouts of trying to abscond, so the pupil will need to be fully supported in their transition returning back to school.

🌟 If the child is reminded about the event it could reoccur, so as good practice, once the situation has been dealt with then we must start a new day afresh.

🌟 Think deeply about what is the right course of action for this individual. Is it imperative that they meet again with staff to face the consequences of their actions? Do they really need further punishments? What reasonable adjustments can be made for those students who struggle with poor emotional regulation and require a different approach to learn how to manage this?

🌟 Look at what caused the behaviour outburst and find ways to support the individual so that their fight/flight or freeze responses significantly reduce over time.

This blogpost has focused on ways to manage or support others when a meltdown has hit crisis point. Often, they can be avoided, if you try to use preventative strategies earlier on.

This will be something I will expand upon in a later post.

Thank you for reading 😍

I’d love to hear about your experiences and what works for you….

If you have any tips to offer, please do drop in the comments below so we can share strategies and support others 🙌

Thank you for reading this post and if you think anyone may benefit from it too, then please do hit one of the sharing icons 👍