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Your child falls apart, and in the moment you can't tell whether they're overwhelmed or upset that the answer is no. If you've ever wondered whether you're looking at a meltdown or a tantrum, and why the same response helps one day and backfires the next, this episode explains what's usually going on underneath and what each situation needs.
In this episode:
Why a child falling apart can come from two very different places, and why the same response can help one and make the other worse
What overload can look like besides screaming, including running away, going quiet, and shutting down
Why "tantrum" can be the wrong word, and what a child may be missing when they get louder after hearing no
Four questions that help you tell the two apart, and what to do when you can't tell
Neither one means your child is bad or that you're failing. Once you know which one you're looking at, you know what to try next.
Resources mentioned:
Free Frustration Tolerance Scripts and Practice Guide: www.climbingfishparenting.com/frustrationtolerance