Tag Archives: tantrums

Make a Terrific Transition Board!

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Does your child have difficulty transitioning from one activity to the next? Does he scream, wail, and tantrum when it’s time to stop playing and go to bed? Does she protest loudly when it’s time to take a bath, then protest again when it’s time to get out of the tub? The problem for many children with disabilities is that they require order and predictability to feel safe. Most of the time, activities seem to be “sprung” on them without warning. “Jessica, put the toys away, it’s time to go shopping with Mommy,” etc. The child feels confused and overwhelmed … Continue reading →

Birthday Party Meltdowns

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I don’t really know how these kids do it – so many parties! Seems like every kid in the class was born between April and June 2000. And my oldest is invited to all of these! (That’s an important difference between us and the other parents, I suppose: we felt we could not invite every single child from her kindergarten class, while it seems that most of these parties are like little K-203 reunions!) The stress that’s out there: all the energy, the activities, the sugar! It’s no wonder there aren’t more meltdowns at these parties like the one the … Continue reading →

“LADY, get control of your KID!”

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Those of us with behaviorally disordered kids get them all the time: Stares. Glares. Looks of indignation. Eye rolls. Huffs. Puffs. Expressions that say, “Lady, get control of your kid!” So this blog is dedicated to those people who shoot the looks of disapproval. Dear shoppers on the run, strangers waiting in line, and cashiers at the counter, It may look like I have failed miserably at raising a well-behaved child. He appears to be an ordinary kid who somehow turned into a monster from bad parenting. And maybe he is irritating you. Maybe you’re annoyed beyond belief at my … Continue reading →

Teach Your Child How to Manage Stress

As adults, we can usually recognize when our stress level gets too high. We can give ourselves a needed break, get some exercise, or call a friend for support. Yet children are often poor managers of their own stress. They are less able to understand their feelings of frustration and confusion, and they don’t know how to help themselves. The child with ADHD, autism, or the learning disabled child is even less equipped to handle stressful situations. My seven-year-old stepdaughter with ADHD used to say, “I feel so angry, I want to punch someone. But I don’t know why.” Is … Continue reading →

Tantrums! Screams! And Crying! Oh My!

One of the most difficult problems to confront parents is when their baby starts shrieking, hitting, going stiff bodies or stamping their feet in fury. The first time it happens, you may stare at your child in utter shock. A child in full cry and tantrum is a site to behold and while we may call them temper tantrums, it’s very likely that it’s not ‘anger’ that has them on a roll. When babies cry they do it because they have no other way to express need, desire, want or frustration. In fact, babies cry for just about every reason … Continue reading →

Surviving the Clothing Battle

My two year old insists on choosing her own clothes. If I dress her in something she doesn’t want to wear she’ll just cry, until I take it off. This is the reason she is wearing her Dora the Explorer bathing suit in her birthday pictures. She insisted on wearing it, and took off the clothes I had chosen for her. If this sounds familiar read on for some tips on helping you and your child survive the clothing battle. Pick Your Battles If you aren’t going anywhere there’s no reason your child can’t wear the clothes they choose, even … Continue reading →

Discipline and the Special Needs Child: An Act of Love

Even more than average children, the special-needs child requires appropriate discipline. I like to point to the example of Helen Keller, who as a blind and deaf child was initially allowed to roam freely in her house, eating off people’s plates, breaking and throwing things at will. Her amazing transformation into an intellectually gifted adult could not have happened without regulations and order. Without discipline, your child’s world is more frightening, more chaotic, and more challenging. Appropriate discipline is an act of love. The question is, how do we discipline a child with a disability? 1. Know your child’s motivators. … Continue reading →

When Your Child Throws a Tantrum in Public: 4 Steps to Regain Control

“Please…make it stop!” With most of life’s problems, we can’t just ignore them and hope they’ll go away. However, tantrums can be an exception. With the right technique, you can ignore your child’s tantrums and eliminate them–hopefully forever. But it takes guts and determination. My Tantrum Hell When my son Kyle was five, his autism made language difficult. Rather than express his frustration in words, he screamed. He would lay on the floor, screeching, sometimes hitting himself and kicking his feet. This made traveling to public places a challenge. At the grocery store, Kyle would spot a toy or book … Continue reading →