No More Meltdowns

Jed Baker, Ph.D.

No More Meltdowns is a Mom’s Choice Awards® Gold Recipient!

Summary

As Autism Mommies, we realize that much of the information we consider as helpful will help any child—asd or no asd. This idea applies to the helpful strategies presented by Jed Baker in this book. Albeit, moreover, and understandably, Autism Mommies and Daddies may experience more meltdown behavior than average. No, NOT meltdowns from the parents; from the kids, silly.

"Prevention of a meltdown" is a major theme of this book. And as a parent my first reaction is, “Hey, I don’t have time and energy for this prevention mumbo jumbo.” Uuuh. . .but apparently I have time and energy to deal with a meltdown? I don’t think so. . . prevention then becomes KING.

But Baker doesn't hold back on giving strategies for when our best efforts go swirling down the toilet--in fact he gives us that information near the beginning of the book. The chapter, "De-Escalating a Meltdown" has absolutely changed the quality of relationship I have with my kids. He offers several strategies, so we have options when one intervention doesn't work.

I love his quote "If we could control the world, we could guarantee no more meltdowns." Geesh, that is so true, and it goes along nicely with my personal philosophy, "If everyone would just do everything I said we would all be happy."

Baker's reality statement is this: “Since we cannot control everything, we will have meltdowns. However, with understanding about what causes a meltdown, we can have fewer and fewer of these moments and reduce the stress in our own lives."

He then proceeds to offer specific situations, examples, and solutions to avoiding and dealing with troubling behavior.

Audience

This book is good information for parents (and teachers or caregivers) of any kid. In addition, Jed Baker has 20+ years of experience working with children on the autism spectrum. All of his information is geared toward helping autism parents and their caregivers. The fact that it helps with my 5-year-old neurotypical son is a bonus.

Points to Ponder

You do have time to read this book and figure out prevention. In fact you will save time and stress if you process and implement the information offered in this book.

Avoid a meltdown yourself. TAKE CARE of you.

In helping your children, try to appreciate who they are, rather than who you wish them to be.

Baker presents this 4-step model:

Managing your emotions and adjusting your expectations
Learning strategies to calm a meltdown in the moment
Understanding why a meltdown occurs
Creating plans to prevent future meltdowns

Finally, get educated, try to tolerate the discomfort i.e. prevent your own meltdown, and don’t blame yourself or your children.

As an Autism Mommy, writer, parent, and blogger I say "BRAVO!" Jed Baker, Ph.D. . . "Bravo and thank you."

Published by Future Horizons click here to buy this and other award-winning books: www.FHautism.com