Episode 110: Struggling with your child’s intense meltdowns? What’s Really Happening and What to Do in the Moment

Have you ever wondered:

• “Why does my child go from 0 to 100 so fast?”
• “Why do they hit, kick, or completely lose control during meltdowns?”
• “And what am I actually supposed to do in that moment?”

What do you do when your child is in the middle of a meltdown—and nothing seems to be working?

In this episode of Sensory Solutions for Parents, we’re breaking down what’s really happening during meltdowns—and even full-on rage—and how to respond in a way that actually helps your child.

You’ll learn why meltdowns are typically not just “misbehavior,” but a nervous system response, and how moments of hitting, kicking, or losing control are often part of the fight response when a child becomes overwhelmed.

Instead of focusing on just stopping the behavior, this episode walks you through connection-first strategies that support your child’s regulation in the moment.

You’ll walk away with simple, practical tools to:

• Stay calm and grounded during intense moments
• Support your child’s body (not just their behavior)
• Keep everyone safe during a full-on rage
• Know what to say—and what not to say
• Build regulation over time

If you’ve ever felt unsure, overwhelmed, or stuck during your child’s meltdowns, this episode will give you a clear path forward.

Key Takeaways from this Episode:

• Meltdowns are a loss of regulation, not misbehavior
• During a meltdown, your child cannot access reasoning or control
• Intense behaviors are fight, flight, or freeze responses
• Full-on rage is the fight response at its highest level
• Co-regulation is the foundation for long-term emotional skills
• Teaching and problem-solving happen after, not during the meltdown

❤️ REMEMBER

Your child isn’t trying to give you a hard time. They’re having a hard time in their body.

NEXT STEPS:

🤍 Join our supportive community of Moms looking for solutions and support at the free Facebook group Sensory Solutions for Parents

⭐ Share & leave a review on Apple Podcasts to help more families!

https://www.instagram.com/sensorysolutionsforparents/#

DISCLAIMER

This podcast, Sensory Solutions for Parents, is intended for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical, occupational therapy, or other professional advice.

The host is a licensed occupational therapist; however, the information shared in this podcast is general in nature and may not apply to your specific child or situation. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapist-client relationship between you and Alison Foura, PhD, OTR/L. Any strategies, ideas, or suggestions shared are offered as general support for parents and caregivers and should be used at your own discretion, with consideration for your child’s individual needs and your family’s values.

Always seek the guidance of your child’s pediatrician, occupational therapist, or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding your child’s development, behavior, or health.

This podcast may also include personal experiences and, at times, faith-based perspectives. These are shared as part of Alison’s personal and professional lens and are not intended to replace individualized care or professional guidance.

Does your toddler or young child struggle at church—melting down during music, refusing to go in, or clinging to you in crowded spaces?

In this episode of Sensory Solutions for Parents, we break down why church environments can feel overwhelming for some children and how those big reactions are often sensory-based stress responses, not misbehavior.

You’ll learn how your child’s nervous system (fight, flight, freeze or fawn) plays a major role in behaviors like running away, shutting down, or acting out.

This episode will help you:

• Understand what’s really happening in your child’s body
• Recognize sensory overload in real-time
• Respond in a way that supports regulation (not just behavior)
• Feel more confident navigating your church experience with your child

If Sundays have started to feel more stressful than peaceful, this episode will give you a new lens—and simple, practical strategies you can use right away.

• Church environments can be overstimulating for young children
• Loud music, crowds, and transitions can overwhelm the nervous system
• Many behaviors are actually fight, flight, freeze or fawn responses
• These reactions are automatic—not intentional behavior choices
• Supporting your child’s sensory needs first helps behavior improve
• Regulation must come before expectations or discipline

• Why your child may cover their ears, run away, or cling during church
• How to identify:
  • Fight (hitting, yelling)
  • Flight (running, refusing)
  • Freeze (shutting down, clinging)
  • Fawn (complying but disengaged)
• How sensory overload builds before the meltdown
• Simple ways to support your child before and during church

Instead of asking: ❌ “How do I get my child to behave at church?”

Try asking: 👉 “What is my child’s body experiencing right now?” 👉 “What do they need to feel safe?”

Your child isn’t trying to give you a hard time. They’re having a hard time in their body.

If this episode helped you, share it with a friend who struggles with church mornings.

And if you want more support like this, come join my free Facebook community where we talk about real-life strategies for real-life parenting.

https://www.facebook.com/share/g/14ftp5s17YP/

⭐ Don’t forget to leave a review on Apple Podcasts! It helps more families find this support!

https://www.instagram.com/sensorysolutionsforparents/#

DISCLAIMER

This podcast, Sensory Solutions for Parents, is intended for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical, occupational therapy, or other professional advice.

The host is a licensed occupational therapist; however, the information shared in this podcast is general in nature and may not apply to your specific child or situation. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapist-client relationship between you and Alison Foura, PhD, OTR/L. Any strategies, ideas, or suggestions shared are offered as general support for parents and caregivers and should be used at your own discretion, with consideration for your child’s individual needs and your family’s values.

Always seek the guidance of your child’s pediatrician, occupational therapist, or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding your child’s development, behavior, or health.

This podcast may also include personal experiences and, at times, faith-based perspectives. These are shared as part of Alison’s personal and professional lens and are not intended to replace individualized care or professional guidance.

Does your child constantly leave the table… stand while eating… or seem like they just can’t sit through a meal?

Have you tried reminders, rewards, or consequences—and nothing seems to stick?

What if staying at the table isn’t just behavior… but your child’s body asking for more support?

In this episode of Sensory Solutions for Parents, we’re breaking down a commonly missed piece of the puzzle: how seating positioning and proprioception (your child’s sense of body awareness) directly impact their ability to stay seated and regulated during meals.

You’ll walk away with a new way of looking at mealtime struggles—and simple, realistic strategies you can start using today.

• Why leaving the table is often not a behavior problem
• How your child’s body positioning affects their ability to sit and eat
• What proprioception is—and why it matters at mealtime
• Why some kids seem “wiggly,” stand, or constantly get up
• How movement is often your child’s way of seeking regulation
• Easy ways to support your child’s body so they can stay at the table longer

• Check for proper positioning using the 90-90-90 rule
• Make sure your child’s feet are supported (this is key!)
• Use a booster seat or back support if needed
• Adjust table height so your child isn’t reaching or slouching
• Add a few minutes of heavy work before meals

Before your next meal:

👉 Give your child 2 minutes of heavy work 👉 Check: Are their feet supported while sitting?

Then simply observe:

• Are they staying at the table longer?
• Does their body seem calmer?
• Is mealtime a little easier?

“Support the body first—and behavior will follow.”

If this episode helped you, share it with another parent who could use this.

And for more simple, real-life sensory strategies: 👉 Join our free community here: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1NgnWDq4io/

You can also find us on IG @SensorySolutionsforParents

Hey there! In this episode, we dive a little deeper into why kids bite and how the environment impacts this! We look at the environment, both at home and in other spaces, such as daycare or the playground!

👉 Biting is often not a behavior problem—it’s a nervous system response.

You’ll learn more about:

• Why toddlers bite, especially in various environments
• Why consequences don’t work long-term
• What to do instead, including what NOT to do

💛 Key takeaway: Your child isn’t trying to be aggressive! Typically, they’re trying to communicate, regulate, or BOTH!

NEXT STEPS:

🎁 Grab your free guide, What to Do When Your Toddler Bites, in our FB community at the link below!

🤍 Join our supportive community of Moms looking for solutions and support at the free Facebook group Sensory Solutions for Parents

⭐ Share + leave a review to help more families!

Follow Sensory Solutions for Parents on IG!

Does your toddler keep biting—even when you’ve tried everything to get them to stop? Does it leave you wondering how much biting is ‘normal’ and why isn’t anything working?

In this episode of Sensory Solutions for Parents, we break down toddler biting through a sensory lens—so you can understand what your child is really trying to tell you.

👉 Biting is often not a behavior problem—it’s a nervous system response.

You’ll learn:

• Why toddlers bite
• How the mouth + body work together, and how this impacts behavior
• Why consequences don’t work long-term
• What to do instead (simple, real-life strategies)

💛 Key takeaway: Your child isn’t trying to be aggressive! Typically, they’re trying to communicate, regulate, or BOTH!

NEXT STEPS:

🎁 Grab your free guide, What to Do When Your Toddler Bites, in our FB community at the link below!

🤍 Join our supportive community of Moms looking for solutions and support at the free Facebook group Sensory Solutions for Parents

⭐ Share + leave a review on Apple Podcasts to help more families!

https://www.instagram.com/sensorysolutionsforparents/#

DISCLAIMER

This podcast, Sensory Solutions for Parents, is intended for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical, occupational therapy, or other professional advice.

The host is a licensed occupational therapist; however, the information shared in this podcast is general in nature and may not apply to your specific child or situation. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapist-client relationship between you and Alison Foura, PhD, OTR/L. Any strategies, ideas, or suggestions shared are offered as general support for parents and caregivers and should be used at your own discretion, with consideration for your child’s individual needs and your family’s values.

Always seek the guidance of your child’s pediatrician, occupational therapist, or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding your child’s development, behavior, or health.

This podcast may also include personal experiences and, at times, faith-based perspectives. These are shared as part of Alison’s personal and professional lens and are not intended to replace individualized care or professional guidance.

Does your child cry, refuse to sit, or completely melt down during haircuts?

You’re not alone, and this isn’t just about behavior.

In this episode, we’re looking at haircuts through a sensory lens so you can better understand what’s actually happening in your child’s body, and how to support them in a way that feels calmer and more manageable for both of you.

Because when we understand the why, the what to do becomes so much clearer.

You’ll get a simple, clear understanding of how your child’s nervous system is working behind the scenes, and why haircuts are sometimes just “too much” for some kids. I’ll share 5 practical, realistic ways to support your child before and during their next haircut.

NEXT STEPS:

Join our supportive community of Moms looking for solutions and support at the free Facebook group Sensory Solutions for Parents

Follow Sensory Solutions for Parents on IG!

https://www.instagram.com/sensorysolutionsforparents/#

DISCLAIMER

This podcast, Sensory Solutions for Parents, is intended for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical, occupational therapy, or other professional advice.

The host is a licensed occupational therapist; however, the information shared in this podcast is general in nature and may not apply to your specific child or situation. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapist-client relationship between you and Alison Foura, PhD, OTR/L. Any strategies, ideas, or suggestions shared are offered as general support for parents and caregivers and should be used at your own discretion, with consideration for your child’s individual needs and your family’s values.

Always seek the guidance of your child’s pediatrician, occupational therapist, or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding your child’s development, behavior, or health.

This podcast may also include personal experiences and, at times, faith-based perspectives. These are shared as part of Alison’s personal and professional lens and are not intended to replace individualized care or professional guidance.

Have you ever left a birthday party feeling exhausted, confused, or wondering, “Why was that so hard for my child?” Do noise, chaos, and even excitement seem to lead straight to a meltdown, clinginess, or shutting down completely? You’re not alone—and your child isn’t being “difficult.”

In this episode, we’re breaking down what’s really going on when birthday parties feel overwhelming for your child. Because those big reactions...they’re not random, and they're not intentional! They’re a window into your child’s nervous system and ultimately they’re communication.

Today we discuss how your child’s sensory systems and nervous system are working behind the scenes, and why busy, loud environments your child’s sensory system and nervous system are working behind the scenes, and why busy, loud environments - like birthday parties - can feel like “too much” for some kids. You’ll walk away with practical, realistic ways to support your child before, during, and after a party—so you can move from surviving these moments to feeling more confident and connected.

NEXT STEPS:

Join our supportive community of Moms looking for solutions and support at the free Facebook group Sensory Solutions for Parents

https://www.instagram.com/sensorysolutionsforparents/#

DISCLAIMER

This podcast, Sensory Solutions for Parents, is intended for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical, occupational therapy, or other professional advice.

The host is a licensed occupational therapist; however, the information shared in this podcast is general in nature and may not apply to your specific child or situation. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapist-client relationship between you and Alison Foura, PhD, OTR/L. Any strategies, ideas, or suggestions shared are offered as general support for parents and caregivers and should be used at your own discretion, with consideration for your child’s individual needs and your family’s values.

Always seek the guidance of your child’s pediatrician, occupational therapist, or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding your child’s development, behavior, or health.

This podcast may also include personal experiences and, at times, faith-based perspectives. These are shared as part of Alison’s personal and professional lens and are not intended to replace individualized care or professional guidance.

Does your child panic when their hands get messy?

Do they refuse finger painting, or to play with slime, or shaving cream?

Do they meltdown the moment something sticky touches their fingers?

In this episode, we’re talking about why some kids love messy play and why others can’t tolerate it. We’ll discuss what to do about it, so you can help your child participate in sensory play and activities without feeling so overwhelmed!

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

• Temple Grandin: https://www.templegrandin.com/

NEXT STEPS:

Join our supportive community of Moms looking for solutions and support at the free Facebook group Sensory Solutions for Parents

DISCLAIMER

This podcast, Sensory Solutions for Parents, is intended for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical, occupational therapy, or other professional advice.

The host is a licensed occupational therapist; however, the information shared in this podcast is general in nature and may not apply to your specific child or situation. Listening to this podcast does not establish a therapist-client relationship between you and Alison Foura, PhD, OTR/L. Any strategies, ideas, or suggestions shared are offered as general support for parents and caregivers and should be used at your own discretion, with consideration for your child’s individual needs and your family’s values.

Always seek the guidance of your child’s pediatrician, occupational therapist, or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding your child’s development, behavior, or health.

This podcast may also include personal experiences and, at times, faith-based perspectives. These are shared as part of Alison’s personal and professional lens and are not intended to replace individualized care or professional guidance.