How to Stop a Meltdown Before It Starts

Parent Tips| Parenting and Family Support| Expert Advice

May 30, 2025•1 min read

Using the Distract and Redirect Strategy with Neurodivergent Kids

If you’re parenting a child with ADHD or autism, you probably know the feeling: you're out running errands or playing a board game at home, and suddenly you can sense it. A meltdown is coming.

Your child is overwhelmed, frustrated, overstimulated, or all three. You're scrambling to figure out what to do before things spiral.

One of the tools I turn to again and again in these moments is called Distract and Redirect.

This Positive Discipline strategy is exactly what it sounds like: gently shifting your child’s attention from an escalating situation to something more engaging, calming, or appropriate. It’s not bribing, avoiding the issue, or punishing.

It's skill-building.

Here’s how it works:

When your toddler starts grabbing items off the shelf at the store, instead of saying, “Stop that,” you can try, “Hey, can you help me find the red apples?”
When your child gets frustrated mid-board game, you can suggest a silly dance break or a quick walk before returning to the activity.

The goal is to interrupt the emotional escalation before it tips into a full meltdown.

Why this strategy is especially effective for neurodivergent kids:

It supports emotional regulation in real time
It builds trust and connection instead of shame.
It helps kids practice better decision-making without relying on punishment.

You’re not ignoring behavior, you’re guiding it.
You’re not stopping emotions; you’re creating space to handle them.

Most importantly, you’re reminding your child that they’re not alone in figuring it out. You’re right there with them.

For more information about distraction and redirection, check out episode 105 of the Every Brain is Different podcast.

Autism meltdown strategies Distract and redirect technique

Samantha Foote

Samantha’s mission is to strengthen, guide, and empower parents, children, and adults to develop emotional awareness, improve social skills, and gain effective coping skills resulting in improved peer relationships, increased family harmony, and a calmer & more relaxed demeanor. She is a board-certified music therapist, a Positive Discipline Parent Educator, and a registered Music Together teacher. She obtained a Bachelor of Science degree from Utah State University and completed her Masters of Music with a specialization in Music Therapy degree from Colorado State University. She is a Neurological Music Therapy Fellow and a Dialectical Behavior Therapy-informed Music Therapist. When she is not working, Samantha enjoys spending time with her husband, children, and extended family. They enjoy fishing, camping, and other outdoor adventures.

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