Visual Support: Calming Strategies

-- by Sarah, Gaby's mom

When standard behavioral interventions failed us, we sometimes had to resort to Gaby's list of calming strategies. This was an illustrated list (words/black and white icons) of stress reducing choices which included:

1. Squeeze (stress ball)
2. 3 deep breaths
3. Get a drink

I know I'm beating a dead horse, here, but I cannot reiterate enough how critical visual supports are - especially for a kid who's already under stress. Good visual supports increase comprehension and reduce anxiety which will often decrease or eliminate negative behaviors. However, for a kid who's already on the verge of a meltdown, a pre-determined strategy that's prompted by a visual support is going to be much more effective than verbally haranguing them.