They used to be called temper tantrums. Now, they’re called meltdowns. What can you do if your child with Attention Deficit Disorder skips right past angry and into a full-blown rage? What actions can you take to either avert the meltdown or help your child regain control more quickly?

Meltdowns and Children with ADD

This article gives practical suggestions for helping a child in crisis.

One of the main problems kids have when they are melting down is when people try to talk to them to get them to be rational. It just doesn't work like that! They need quiet time to calm down.

How does your child respond when you ask him to be accountable for damages done when he is upset?

Most children feel awful after they have a meltdown. This is the time to reassure the child that everybody makes mistakes and that he is valued and cared for.

Connie,
Great article. It is so true that you can't have a rational/logical discussion with a child while they are extremely emotional.

Helping a child put words to their emotions (when they are calm) is very helpful to decrease emotional outbursts in the future.

Ilyssa,

I think that this is something that we should all know, but in the heat of the moment we forget. In my job working in a special day school, we have found that letting the child cool down before processing can work wonders.

By working with kids, we can help them control their anger and minimize those times that they are in a meltdown mode.

Ways to work with them:
*Keep structure in their lives.
*Preview changes for them.
*Let them know the procedures for when they are in crisis.
*Tell them the ways that they need to be accountable for their actions.
*Follow through with the plan--ALWAYS!