solving tantrums

Published February 1, 2009 by Nancy

Tantrums. Wild, out of control, unprovoked, unexplainable. They quickly work up to hyperventilating, which leads to even wilder out-of-control behaviour.

Toddlers and preschoolers with sensory issues can’t deal with all the sensory distress they put up with in a day. They can’t filter it all out. It’s like being stuck with pins all day.

I’m not sure what it was that prompted me one day to approach him with crackers. He was huddled, terrified and shrieking, in his bed. I wasn’t even sure he would recognize them or be able to hold them, let alone eat them.

But he took them, like a drowning person reaching for a buoyline. I watched him munch, almost frantically, his eyes still wide, his breathing harsh.

By the end of the second cracker, he had calmed down quite a bit. Enough for him to start regaining control.

There is a lesson here. For sensory kids, too much of the wrong sensation can push them over the edge. Then the wildness of their own reaction becomes even more to handle, which starts to snowball.

But the right sensation can right them again.

Here are some suggestions.  But keep in mind: these vary from kid to kid.

1. Crunchy or chewy foods: The rhythmic chewing works the jaw muscles, which stimulate the inner ear, and also stimulates the mouth’s senses of taste, texture, and smell. By simultaneously stimulating many senses at once, these handy mouth tools short-circuit sensory overload.

2. Sucking from a straw: Similarly to the crunching and chewing foods, sucking short-circuits sensory overload, and the rhythmic suck-and-swallow calms all the senses.

3. Music: 1950s rock ‘n roll music is very stimulating. The strong rhythm and energetic sound can cut through a sensory overload tantrum. Once the kid is shocked out of the tantrum, provide something to drink.

4. Wrestling: A full-body workout with a parent may allow the kid to work out the frustration. Be aware that the kid must give permission first; otherwise, she may think she is being attacked. A milder alternative is any kind of rhythmic movement, such as patting the shoulder, rocking, moving the hands up and down, or moving the legs in a gentle flutter-kick pattern.