Personalized De-Escalation Plan
AI-generated strategies based on your child's profile and behavior patterns. Print and share with caregivers, teachers, and therapists.
This is a sample plan. Start your free trial to generate a plan personalized to your child's specific profile, triggers, and patterns.
Prevention
- Use visual schedule for daily routine. Review together each morning.
- Give 5-minute, 2-minute, and 1-minute warnings before transitions.
- Maintain consistent meal and snack times. Pack portable snacks.
- Limit sensory input after school: dim lights, reduce noise, offer headphones.
- Watch for early warning signs: increased stimming, covering ears, withdrawal.
Early Escalation
- Validate feelings: 'I can see this is hard. I am here.'
- Offer choices instead of demands: 'Do you want to walk or be carried?'
- Reduce language. Use short, calm sentences.
- Offer sensory tool: weighted lap pad, noise-canceling headphones, or fidget.
- Move to lower-stimulation environment if possible.
Active Meltdown
- Stay calm. Your regulation helps their regulation.
- Do not talk, reason, or redirect during peak. Wait for the wave to pass.
- Ensure physical safety. Clear the area of objects that could cause harm.
- Stay nearby but give space if they need it.
- Time the meltdown. Most peak at 8-12 minutes and naturally de-escalate.
Recovery
- Offer water and a snack once calm.
- Do not lecture or debrief immediately. Wait at least 30 minutes.
- Offer comfort: 'You are safe. That was really hard.'
- When ready, briefly name what happened: 'Your body got really upset when the plan changed.'
- Log the incident in MeltdownMap within 1 hour while details are fresh.
Recommended Sensory Toolkit
Noise-canceling headphones
Reduce auditory input in loud environments
Weighted lap pad
Provide proprioceptive input during seated activities
Chew necklace
Oral sensory input during high-anxiety moments
Fidget tools
Maintain regulation during waiting or transitions
Sunglasses
Reduce visual input in bright or fluorescent-lit spaces
Timer or visual countdown
Make transitions predictable and concrete
Communication Scripts
Refusing to leave a preferred activity
“I know you love playing with this. We are going to stop in 2 minutes. You can choose: put it away yourself or I can help you. After dinner, you can play again.”
Sensory overload in a public place
“I can see this is too much right now. Let's find a quieter spot. You can wear your headphones. We do not have to stay.”
Demand refusal / PDA response
“I wonder if we could find a way to do this together. What if you picked which part to do first? There is no rush.”
After-school dysregulation
“You worked really hard today. Right now, your only job is to rest. Snack is on the table. We can talk later if you want.”