Steven is a 15-month-old toddler who has uncontrollable tantrums. He had few words and did not have the communication skills to convey his frustrations in other ways. In addition he was sensory-seeking, very sensitive to different sounds, and had difficulty with motor planning and sequencing. His parents were not very engaged with him and were told to be firm with him when he misbehaved. Which of the following strategies would be appropriate when working with Steven to reduce his meltdowns?