Just curious what methods parents have taught kids to use (or therapists) when kids are beginning to get out of control, to get them to calm down before it gets out of hand.
My son is trying "keep Calm -deep breath" when he is starting to feel angry, wild, frustracted, etc to try to keep it from escalating. He's 12. I know it's hard to catch in time, but I want him to keep trying. He needs to learn to give himself a "time out" when he needs it. It's a hard thing to learn!
Also he's a total perfectionist and when he messes up, he'll say things like "just kill me". Of course I know it's just him mad at himself, but sometimes teachers take him literally and get very concerned.
my son is 8, we started the 5 finger rule when he was 2 or 3. (spread all your fingers out, thumb to your chin, and pinky on his chin). Worked great when he was younger, when kept short and to the point. Now, we don't have much of a problem at all. But on the slim occasion, he has started to cover his own mouth with his hand and breaths in and out 'till he calms down. I never told him to do that, he just started it all on his own.
ok, it might have some thing to do with me telling him, when you feel like yelling close your mouth and you can do it through your nose is he tries real hard. lmao Hay, what ever works.