Does anyone else's child do this?

TiaLomax754

pramsay13 said:

What does a meltdown entail?

If she just wants a bit of space then just let her do that and wait for her by the door.

If there's a risk she will hit out or damage something / herself then maybe you can't let her run off, but in that situation do you see it coming and can therefore distract her, or hold her hand until you know it has passed?

She doesn't usually hit out or damage something or hurt herself during a meltdown.

When you say "wait for her by the door", what door are you referring to?

Sorry if that comes across as rude.

TiaLomax754

Fireflyaway said:

TiaLomax754 said:

Fireflyaway said:

My daughter used to do this. If we went out, whether to a soft play centre, shops or park etc. It was usually when she didn't want to leave. You would get within reach and she would run! Once we had learned this would happen, we insisted that she hold hands from when we said we were leaving until we got into the car. It was met with protest at first but then just became habit and it worked. 
Would your daughter understand if you explain that this behaviour potentially dangerous? Or babyish? Some kids would never want to appear babyish!  I suppose it's quite funny to her but you need to let her see it's not going to get the reaction she hopes. You will know if it's safe to ignore it, explain its dangerous or reward her for not doing it might work, depending on her ability. 

She doesn't find it funny though.
Quick question, don't take this the wrong way, does your daughter have ASD?

That's different then. My daughter used to laugh and think it was one big game. No my daughter isn't ASD but I am Autistic. However I'm obviously much older than your daughter! 
How does she respond if you ask her to come to you rather than you approaching her? Does she have something to take with her when she is out so it can distract / calm her when she gets anxious? I remember the worst place for me as a child was electrical stores, like Currys ! I could hear and smell the electric and got an instant headache from the lights. I used to bite the inside of my mouth and pick the skin off my thumbs. I mention this because have you noticed it happens more in certain places? If your daughter took a toy out for example, could you say that you need to speak to (toys name) ? Then she could bring said toy. I've seen some kids react well to that because it takes the focus / pressure off them.

If I ask her to come to me she usually doesn't.

She has a favourite toy but doesn't take it out at the moment. When you say "could you say that you need to speak to (toys name)" what do you mean exactly?
Thanks in advance.

Sophtee

My son with ADHD does this! 

pramsay13

TiaLomax754 said:

When you say "wait for her by the door", what door are you referring to?

By that I was referring to the shop that you used in your initial example.

So I'm imagining my local Co-op store, there are a few aisles and walkways. If you started chasing someone around you could be there for ages. Whereas there is only 1 door in and out of the place, so if you stood and waited by the door she wouldn't be able to go anywhere other than around the shop a few times.

TiaLomax754

Sophtee said:

My son with ADHD does this! 

If you don't mind me asking, how do you deal with it??

TiaLomax754

pramsay13 said:

TiaLomax754 said:

When you say "wait for her by the door", what door are you referring to?

By that I was referring to the shop that you used in your initial example.

So I'm imagining my local Co-op store, there are a few aisles and walkways. If you started chasing someone around you could be there for ages. Whereas there is only 1 door in and out of the place, so if you stood and waited by the door she wouldn't be able to go anywhere other than around the shop a few times.

My daughter would run round it for at least an hour if I stood at the door waiting.
Also, it usually happens in big supermarkets.

TiaLomax754

I just don’t know what to do to help my daughter with this behaviour, I only want to know what to do to help her with it but I don’t know and that is what stresses me.

TiaLomax754

I mean what to do in the situation when it happens.

TiaLomax754

Has anyone got any more advice?
Thanks in advance.

Savvy_Sue

Are you able to just not take her out for a bit, at least not to places where this is going to happen? I realise that may not be possible.

Also remembering strategies I used with my lot when they were young. I would pick up a comic for each of them on the way in, and that would keep slightly entertained while we went round, then I'd pay for them as we left.