Meltdown Support Plan

A meltdown is an involuntary response to overwhelm, not a tantrum and not a choice. The goal is safety and regulation, not discipline. Fill in what works for your child and keep it where caregivers can find it.

Before: reduce the load

• Know the early signs for your child (pacing, covering ears, going quiet).
• Watch the common triggers: sensory overload, transitions, hunger, tiredness, demands.
• Lower demands and sensory input when you see the build-up starting.
• Offer a regulation tool early (quiet space, headphones, movement, water).

During: keep it safe and calm

• Do reduce input: lower your voice, dim lights, clear the space, give room.
• Do keep everyone physically safe.
• Do wait. It has to run its course; regulation cannot be forced.
• Do not reason, teach, lecture, or ask a lot of questions.
• Do not punish, or add consequences for something involuntary.
• Do not take it personally.

After: recover and reconnect

• Expect exhaustion. Allow rest and low demands afterward.
• Reconnect gently. Shame makes the next one more likely.
• When calm (maybe much later), problem-solve together, not in the moment.
• Note what led up to it so you can adjust the environment next time.

My child's plan (fill in)

Early signs:

Known triggers:

What helps most:

What makes it worse (avoid):