Aspies For Freedom

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Bxx5EmCRxYY

Neurotypicalism everyday...

I swear i'm NT ya know...

*goes up to someone and punch them*

Oh sorry! I didn't mean to, I'm NT!

Yes, it's a normal developmental stage in a child's life. They are small and the only way they can get the upper hand in an argument with bigger people is to make such a dreadful noise that they will give in. I've seen a baby as young as 10 months chuck a tanty because her mum was looking at a friend's baby instead of her.

They also call the tantrum stage the "terrible twos" but it seems to usually start around 15 months and can go past three and even at an older age, a very overtired child is still capable of having one.

Yes. It's too bad that the child care "experts" of the past couple of decades or so often haven't taken such a sensible attitude towards tantrums. You then have households run by the children because the parents are so afraid the kids will scream and stamp their feet if they don't get everything they want.

Have you noticed that kids throwing tantrums often don't have any tears in their eyes?

I guess autism tantrums and meltdowns can be frustrating to some parents as they might not understand what caused them.

My granny's middle son used to chuck some real wobblies. He tactic was to laugh a bit and say "come on, that's a feeble effort. Stamp your feet harder. Yell louder". The reverse psychology often worked. The only time it didn't was when the other kids laughed at him and it made him angrier.

I frequently hear by some parents, that they think their NT children were even worse than their autistic ones when it came to tantrums, but I guess it varies alot.

What is the difference between a tantrum and a melt-down?

I guess tantrums is something the kids do to get what they want, while meltdown  is a reaction to frustrations.

I wonder if autistic children are less likely to have a tantrum by my definition.

I don't really know whether or not I have had any meltdowns...

Oh wait! I have on tape once when I was a kid and screamed like hell because I didn't want to go into the water (was afraid of sharks), other than that I don't know. Dad has also had some physical struggles with getting me along on a vacation trip or visit to some old friends.

But my parents usually say that I have been extremely calm compared to my NT sisters.

Actually, I always thought it was quite the opposite. When an NT has a tantrum, it is attributed to spoiled child. When an autist has a tantrum it is generally attributed to sensory overload (i.e. not the child's fault).

Mom

Hmm, hating oneself for it...

I remember I hated myself for beginning to cry in the middle of school lessons and being totally unable to control it, I just wished that I would stop crying but I just had to let it all through.

I have never reacted aggressively against my parents, just bullies until I was told not to.

Is it just me, or is it more common for kids these days to have tantrums?

Certainly, more goods were delivered to the house eg. bread, milk, fruit and veges etc. so maybe kids weren't taken out so much.  I'd say parents were also more likely to crack down on tantrums in public places too. Mum used to carry a wooden spoon when I was little and I think she only had to use it once.