We have worked in so many different primary schools and one of the most common questions we get asked is, ‘What do I do when a child is in crisis and having a meltdown?’ The simple answer to this is, there is very little that you can do when a child is dysregulated and in a heightened state. You can give them somewhere to calm down, and you can help them to regulate their emotions, but a child who is in the middle of a meltdown will not be able to take much on board – their emotions have taken over, and they will not hear what you are saying to them.
The help that can be given to a child who becomes dysregulated easily is done every day, all throughout the day. Build a trusting, positive relationship with him/her. Get to know what he/she likes. Learn what might be the triggers for him/her. Teach them how to recognise the feelings that show they are becoming unsettled. Teach them different ways of reacting. Teach them breathing exercises. Teach them calming exercises. Check-in with them regularly to make sure they are settled and calm and help them if they are struggling.
Think about children who become dysregulated in your school. Think of what they go through physically, and how exhausted they often are afterwards. Think about how isolated they must feel.
No-one would choose to get into this heightened state. Children need our help to recognise the emotions they are feeling and to then help to calm them and learn from the situation for next time.
Reach Behaviour 