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Huge meltdown at Chessingtons

2 replies

supportman · 28/08/2007 20:39

I am a glutton for punishment and took my two little sisters (8 and 15) and my little brother who is 12 to chessingtons today. I think I mentioned that he has special needs before but didn't say what, he has Aspergers. The day was going fine until it was time to go and we agreed on the last ride, there was another last ride after that one then we called at the shop for some sweets for the way home, he then run from the shop and shouting I want another ride. I had to be firm as had already agreed that we had done the last ride and had another last ride and had to draw the line. He then spent an hour and 20 minutes rolling around the floor shouting and swearing and throwing his arms and legs about. There was loads of people staring and pointing and if I didn't have my hands full I would have had some things to say to the idiots, about the only ones that weren't was staff and people with children who were also had disabled wristbands.

Never had tantrums on this scale with clients and would like advise on how to handle extended tantrums. I even tried to physically move him, which I could not do if working but different with my brother, but he was flapping about too much to move and way stronger than I expected a twelve year old to be.

Obviously I didn't want to give in as he has to learn that no means no and it didn't help that I had worked the previous day and then a wake night and was needing to make a move as was getting tired and needed to get the driving out of the way and didn't really have time to ride out the tantrum. In the end he snapped out of it in an instant and was fine on the way home.

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flyingmum · 30/08/2007 17:09

Just to send sympathy. The two major public meltdowns my chap has had have to rank as in the top 10 of 'worse days of your life'

Pre warning and laying down the boundries before any major change is my only suggestion. I actually wouldn't know what to do if mine went into meltdown now. He's 12 and as big and much stronger than me.

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supportman · 30/08/2007 17:59

Thanks for sympathy Flyingmum, all a days work for me though, but never on that scale before. I have taken him out loads of times and his tantrums usually last between 5 and 20 minutes, and a usually only verbally challenging.

All experiance I suppose.

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