We all have them … meltdowns. They are normally much more wide openly visible in children. Adults believe they cover them well by clench teethed silence or a complete disappearance or a stomping of feet or whatever method may be fruitful to reestablishing self control.

How do we deal with that loss of control in a small child?

It is first necessary to understand what a meltdown stems from.

They were called temper tantrums at one time. They involve both temper and the nature of a person.

Adults recognize their temper and nature and can control both.

A child recognizes neither so means of reclaiming control is vastly different.

A child under two can lose self control in a moment. A young temper can surface unexpectedly …triggered by the child’s nature.. He/she can emote through hitting and screaming or throwing things or any manner of disruption. A child’s nature determines the degree of disruption.

What to do?

Quietly remove the child from the situation. This will most likely result in wild kicking and flailing and screaming on the child’s part.

The child should then be held snugly and firmly and lovingly on your lap in a quiet area. As he/she screams and struggles to ‘escape’… the firm hold should be maintained.

Words aren’t needed. They wouldn’t be heard.

Some children will work their emotions out quickly. Others may be very prolonged. It requires patience on the part of the adult to allow the child to take whatever time is needed to work it all out … firmly and snugly holding the child to the end of rhe meltdown.

It will end.

When done … the quiet silent sobbing that will follow is a requiem to peace and the child will be ready to continue his/her day without having any memory of what the “meltdown” was even about.

A very important step on the road of learning about self control … via a ‘meltdown’ …has been taken.

A child’s grasp of self control will grow with him if he has adults around him who have the patience to work with him.

Soon he will be able to work through a meltdown on his own after being guided to a guiet spot where he knows he is safe.

He is well on his way to one day becoming the reasonably functioning young adult he is expected to become by all those who care for him. ..meltdown free.

The post meltdown first appeared on Wonder Care Plus.

The day ends.It has been a busy one! I don’t think I even finished the smoothie I made when I first got up. What did I accomplish? Not a thing that I can delineate.

Sometime life gets in the way.

On those days all good intentions are lost. The interruptions start in the first morning hour and continue relentlessly. They may be physical interruptions or emotional or mental. They all do their job. I try to do mine.

I bring not one good intention to fulfillment.

That is what has happened on this site… and I apologize. I cannot pretend. Sometime life gets in the way and much is put on hold.

That applies to life with your children too.

Don’t fret. It was only today.

Tomorrow is another day and it will be more organized. Your mind will be rested. The hours will meld smoothly together and all will be good.

We all need days like today just to remind us of how much we really do accomplish.

Now I will get on with working site and do as I vowed I would… offer support and help to those who may need it.

Remember…even when life does get in the way … each day has a smile hiding under the madness somewhere.

You can find it.

The post sometime life gets in the way first appeared on Wonder Care Plus.