Which Coping Skills Actually Help Kids with Autism Stay Calm?

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Behavior is communication. We teach emotion labeling, break requests, and flexible thinking so kids can regulate before a meltdown.

What we teach

• Body signals & emotion words (I feel… my body tells me…)
• Menu of coping tools: Deep breaths, wall pushes, headphones, fidgets, quiet corner.
• Replacement behaviors: “I need a break,” “Help please,” “Can we switch?”
• Trigger plans: Noise, transitions, denied access—each has a practiced response.

Family playbook

Caregivers get a simple Coping Plan (one page) to keep responses consistent and calm, with reinforcement for using skills instead of escalation.

Mini-FAQ

• Q: Should we ignore meltdowns?
• A: We reduce attention to problem behavior but actively teach and reward the replacement skill so kids learn what to do instead.

References:

• APA – Emotion regulation & child coping: https://www.apa.org
• NIMH – Autism & co-occurring anxiety: https://www.nimh.nih.gov

Request a customized Coping Plan and home visuals from our Lumberton clinicians.

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