Hello there and welcome to this week’s blog.

Thanks to all of you who have been submitting tips for helping your child in the summer holidays.

If you have a tip and haven’t yet added it to the blog you can still do so at http://parentingaspergers.com/blog/do-you-have-any-good-summer-holiday-tips/

And I’m working hard on the “Surviving Summer Holidays” ebook so I hope it will be all ready in a week or two.

Here’s this week’s blog post …

Question

How should I deal with my son’s emotional outbursts?

Answer

Emotional outbursts are very common in children with Asperger’s Syndrome.  Also referred to as rages or meltdowns, these events can be frightening for the child and everyone present.  Children of all ages (and even adults) with Asperger’s must take precautions to help prevent reaching the stage of losing complete control.  There are several Asperger’s characteristics that can cause these emotional outbursts.

To help your son control these emotional outbursts you’ll have to discover the reasons behind the outbursts.  The answer will depend upon the cause or causes.

Possible Causes

*   Social issues.  Children with Asperger’s have problems with social communication and situations.  Being in a social situation can be extremely uncomfortable and can lead to an emotional breakdown.

*   Sensory issues.  Hyposensitivity and hypersensitivity to light, sound, touch, smell, and visual activities can quickly become overwhelming, sending the child with Asperger’s spiraling out of control.

*    Emotional awareness.  Children with Asperger’s do not always understand their own emotions or feelings about people, things, and situations.

There are a few things you can try that may help with your son’s emotional outbursts.  You will want to contact your son’s physician to discuss the use of medication therapy or counseling and to check his general health.

Management Options

*   Behavior modification.  Help your son pinpoint any stressors that cause outbursts.
1. Adapt the use of redirection to avoid an outburst.
2. Create a safe zone that is a calming place to relax and regain control.
3. Use rewards to encourage self-control.

*   Family and individual counseling.  Counseling can help you understand the feelings your son is struggling with and can give you the knowledge you need to develop a plan for him.  Counseling can help your son understand why he loses control which can lead to better control and prevention.

*   Medication.  Your son may need help with anxiety and depression or other emotional issues that can be improved with the appropriate medicines.

There are books available that will increase your understanding on the issues your son experiences on a daily basis.  “Asperger Syndrome and Difficult Moments: Practical Solutions for Tantrums, Rage, and Meltdowns – Revised and Expanded Edition” by Brenda Smith Myles & Jack Southwick is a great resource for you to utilize.  This book offers solutions and practical advice for home and for school and helps the child with Asperger’s, as well as those around him.

Educating yourself on the causes and treatments for these extreme emotions will benefit both you and your son.

Have a Great Week

Dave Angel

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Articles posted this week at The Parenting Aspergers Community

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Is it possible to help my son improve his organizational skills?

Thanks to the treatment and management advances made in the area of Asperger’s Syndrome, children with Asperger’s Syndrome can expect to live successful, productive lives. Medications, therapies, and school support are proving to add confidence and skills in the lives of these children. It is common for a child with Asperger’s to have problems with organization. These skills normally begin to develop at a very young age. The simple act of sorting beads by color is a beginning organizational skill. As the child grows, these skills begin to advance. Children with Asperger’s Syndrome do not make these advances. However, this doesn’t mean they cannot learn. This just means that you’ll have to …

To read the full article go to: -

http://www.parentingaspergerscommunity.com/members/269.cfm

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My son has problems in school. The other students know how to upset him, what can I do to help him?

The parent-teacher relationship is always important, but is even more so when Asperger’s Syndrome is involved. Communication is essential since you cannot always rely on your child to convey the day’s happenings. Address any problems in a timely manner to avoid damage to your child’s self-esteem. He is already a high risk for …

To read the full article go to: -

http://www.parentingaspergerscommunity.com/members/270.cfm
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Public school versus Janus school. Which is the better choice?

Asperger’s Syndrome can be complicated when it comes to education. The combination of high intelligence and language/communication weaknesses, along with social skills struggles, present a need for an educational balancing act. How do you create an individualized program for a child who has above average intelligence while lacking the skills to follow multi-step directions? …

To read the full article go to: -

http://www.parentingaspergerscommunity.com/members/271.cfm
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Also the following 10 Special Reports and Ebooks have just been added to The Parenting Aspergers Community …

Aspergers Answer Revealed

Emotional Freedom Therapy and Aspergers

Grandparents Top Tips for a Child with Aspergers Syndrome

An interview with a Speech-Language Pathologist

The Best of ASD Parenting Tips

The Parenting Autism Resource Guide

An interview with Donna Williams

Real Life Autism Tips, Techniques and Stories

Ten ways to Cope when Caring for someone with Autism

Autism Resource Sheets for Working with Autism
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