What to Do During Meltdowns…

Tantrums and meltdowns are very common in young children. The first

thing we need to do as parents and caregivers is to understand the root cause

of the meltdown. Of course, that is not always easy since tantrums are often

generated by a lot of different things. The most common reasons for

meltdowns and tantrums are fear, frustration, and sensory overload.

Young children don't always have the words to say exactly what they need

and that fuels frustration and sensory overload. Often parents and

caregivers think that tantrums and meltdowns are caused by a child who is

being willful and doing it out of spite, but in my experience over years of

working with families, willfulness is rarely the cause. Most meltdowns are not

voluntary or willful, but they are a learned response that helps young children

communicate their needs and wants.

The goal with children who are more prone to meltdowns is to help them.