Free Resource! Print this guide and keep it on your fridge or in your wallet. It's designed to help you stay calm when your child is in crisis.
Meltdown Response Guide
For parents & carers — keep this visible!
🧠 Meltdowns are involuntary
Not manipulation — overwhelm
BEFORE
Warning Signs
Watch for:
⚡ACT NOW! Reduce demands, offer escape
DURING
Stay Calm & Safe
✓ DO:
- • Stay calm yourself
- • Ensure safety first
- • Reduce stimulation
- • Fewer words, soft
- • Give physical space
✗ DON'T:
- • Reason or lecture
- • Ask questions
- • Punish or threaten
- • Force eye contact
- • Say "calm down"
🫁 Breathe. You can't co-regulate if you're dysregulated.
AFTER
Recovery Time
Give time & space:
💚Later: reflect on triggers together. What can we change?
Remember:
Meltdowns are neurological overwhelm — not bad behaviour. Your child is not "being bad", they're having a hard time.
For You:
This is really hard. You're doing your best. If you lose your cool, repair later.
Keep this somewhere visible — it's hard to think clearly during a crisis 💙
theneurodiversebrain.com