Viz Kids quick guide to less meltdowns

Children have meltdowns. Sometimes there seems to be no way around it. A schedule is changed. A toy is taken away. Rain arrives unexpectedly. But quite often, there is a way to keep the meltdown at bay and keep the day going smoothly by using visual supports. In short, visual supports are diagrams for children to process and respond to. A visual schedule helps a child know there is a change in activities; a visual countdown lets the child know that their toy has an expiration date; a visual condition shows what activity will happen if it sunny and what activity will happen if it rains; and a visual choice board gives the child a way to choose what they want. Learn how to avoid meltdowns with this helpful Viz Kids app tutorial.

1. Visual Schedules

Most children have no idea what’s coming up next in their day. In some children, this causes great anxiety. A schedule can help relieve the anxiety that ends up in a meltdown. A visual schedule can be as simple as letting the child know what is about to happen next. You can do that by showing a visual of a countdown to the next activity. 


SAY: Time for bedtime story! 

[The Viz Kids app shows a countdown that can be checked off with a book underneath it] 


A schedule can be showing visuals for what is about to happen followed by the next activity. 


SAY: First, drink your apple juice, and then we’ll go on the swing. 

[The Viz Kids app shows a glass of apple juice front and center with an image of a swing underneath. The juice is checked off, and then the swing displays front and center] 


Or, it can be literally a list of all of the activities you plan to do that day! Let your child know what’s happening next with a visual, and see their anxiety go down and their meltdowns occur with less frequency.

2. Visual Choices

Giving your child a choice doesn't just help them in the moment. It also instills agency, confidence and connection long-term. With Viz Kids, the choices are displayed in a grid of images for the child to choose from. 


SAY: Do you want to play with legos or use your tablet?

[The Viz Kids app shows a grid of two images: legos and tablet. The child can make their choice by pressing on the image]

3. Visual Rewards

Sometimes we need rewards! I do. You do. Kids certainly do! Although it’s best to have your child follow their schedule without rewards, there are situations where rewards save time, energy and potentially a meltdown.


SAY: If you eat your chicken nuggets, you can have an ice cream cone.

[The Viz Kids app shows a diagram with an image of chicken nuggets pointing to an image of an ice cream cone. Underneath, it shows a diagram with an image of chicken nuggets crossed out pointing to an image of an ice cream cone crossed out]

4. Visual Conditions

This is a tricky one. What if there’s a 40% chance of rain? Do you go outside and do something your child loves while risking a meltdown if it rains? Do you play it safe and do something less fun but without having to be concerned with the weather? For children who respond well to visual schedules and choices, you can also try showing them visual conditions. The conditions diagram is very similar to the reward diagram. The difference being that the condition is out of their control. They can’t control the weather, other people’s plans, whether or not their favorite treat is in stock, etc. This is a good time to use visual conditions.


SAY: If it’s sunny, we’ll go to the playground. If it rains, we’ll watch TV.

[The Viz Kids app shows a diagram with an image of the sun pointing to an image of a playground and an image of rain pointing to an image of a TV]


Download the app for iPhones and iPads here.

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