Big Feelings and Big Behaviours (Tantrums)
Advice to help you understand why your child is having a tantrum and how to respond in a calm and effective way.
Tantrums vs. meltdowns
Dr Dan Siegel’s ‘Hand Model of the Brain’ can also help explain the difference between a tantrum and a meltdown.
An ‘upstairs brain tantrum’ is when the upstairs and down stairs brain is still connected and a child might be acting in way to try and get something they want.
A ‘downstairs brain tantrum’ (or meltdown) is when the child has ‘flipped their lid’ and the thinking brain has become disconnected from the upstairs brain.
Younger children, particularly very young children, are much more likely to be having a ‘downstairs brain’ tantrum or meltdown and will need help from an adult to bring them back to a state of calm before the adult is able to even consider correcting the behaviour.
Practical tips and expert advice
| Parenting. Give it Time |
How to manage big feelings and big behaviours (tantrums) Hints and tips to help you teach your child how to share |
Supporting advice
| NSPCC |