29/05/2026
Have you ever noticed your child going from calm to a full meltdown seemingly out of nowhere?
The reality is that emotional explosions rarely happen suddenly. There are often signs along the way, and when we learn to recognise them, we can support children before they reach the end of the track.
Think of emotions like a train journey:
🔵 Starting Out
Your child is calm, regulated, and ready to engage.
🟢 Picking Up Steam
You may notice small signs of frustration, anxiety, or overwhelm. This is often the best time to step in with supports.
🟡 Point of No Return
The nervous system is becoming overloaded. Thinking skills are reduced, and it becomes much harder for your child to use coping strategies independently.
🔴 Explosion
Meltdown, shutdown, aggression, tears, yelling, or complete withdrawal. At this stage, the brain is in survival mode and learning is no longer possible.
Occupational Therapy helps children, teenagers, and families identify what "Picking Up Steam" and "Point of No Return" look like for them. Together, we develop practical tools and strategies to help slow the train down before it reaches the explosion stage.
The goal isn't to stop children from having big feelings. The goal is to help them recognise what is happening in their body, understand their emotions, and develop the skills they need to navigate them successfully.
