When Prevention Fails

Sometimes the meltdown happens anyway. First, stop talking. More words add sensory overload. Get down to their eye level and breathe slowly.

Once the storm passes, name what happened without judgment: "It was really hard to stop playing." This validation tells the child their feelings made sense, even if the behavior did not.

Later, in a calm moment, build a transition toolkit together. Ask what helps them switch gears. Some kids want a hug, some want to bring one toy along, some need to say goodbye out loud.