No More Meltdowns: Positive Strategies for Managing and Preventing Out-of-control Behavior »

Jed Baker, Ph.D., is a clinical psychologist with over 12 years experience leading theraputic groups with children, adults and families. He is a behavioral consultant for several New Jersey school systems, providing social skills training for students with pervasive developmental disorders and learning disabilities. In addition, he writes, lectures, and provides training throughout the Northeast on social skills training for individuals with Asperger Sydrome and related pervasive developmental disorders.

If you have a child with challenging behavior problems, this book was written for you! Many components of Dr. Bakers approachbased on years of applied researchwere initially intended for children on the autism spectrum. However, over the years, he has discovered that they are equally applicable to all children with behavior problems. In the first two chapters you will learn what a meltdown is and why children have them. In the subsequent eight chapters, you will learn what to do about them. This book offers logical, flexible strategies for dealing with out-of-control behaviors.

Foreword     ix
Introduction     xiii
The Problem
Chapter 1
Meltdowns: When rewards and punishments are not enough     3
What is a meltdown?
The usual parenting advice: start with rules and consequences
The limits of discipline: when rewards and punishments no longer work
But aren't meltdowns just manipulative behavior?
Can we really expect no more meltdowns?
An overview of the four-step model for reducing meltdowns
Chapter 2
What are meltdowns made of?     13
Fight, flight or freeze response
Temperament
Difficulties with abstract thinking and perspective taking
Inflexibility
An explosive combination
The Solution
Chapter 3
Accepting and appreciating our children     23
Controlling our own frustration
Building competence
Avoiding learned helplessness
The 80/20 rule
Anticipating frustration as part of learning
When to avoid power struggles
Chapter 4
De-escalating a meltdown     35
How to de-escalate a meltdown
Distractions
When too much distraction can make things worse
Helping children find their own distractions and calming strategies
Steps for creating self-calming strategies
Chapter 5
Understanding why repeat problems occur     47
Understanding the triggers
The ABCs of behavior: Antecedent, Behavior, Consequence
Getting the ABCs: Interviews and observations
Seeing the pattern
Chapter 6
Creating a prevention plan     57
The components of a good prevention plan
Aprevention plan for Kevin
The four types of meltdown situations
Plans for the Four Types of Meltdown Situations
Chapter 7
Demands     69
Do your schoolwork
Try it, it's delicious
Hurry up, the bus is coming
Clean up
Let's go to the party
Chapter 8
Waiting     93
Just wait
You can't always get what you want
Okay, time to stop playing
Chapter 9
Threats to self-image     109
Winning isn't everything
It's okay to make mistakes
But names will never hurt you
Chapter 10
Unmet wishes for attention     125
I can't play with you now
Don't be jealous
Time to go to bed
Chapter 11
Closing thoughts: Finding your own way     145
Prevention plan form
References     149