Meltdowns – the secrets that science can tell us:
Meltdowns, tantrums, the terrible twos…. The toddler years are often characterized as a challenging time and there is some truth to the stereotype. 85 % of kids in the early years will have something we would all recognize as ‘a a tantrum’. In fact, it’s considered a normal developmental stage. (There are rare exceptions: older children who have daily, intense, long episodes without any obvious trigger may need additional family support).
What is a meltdown?
A meltdown is a period of explosive and uncontrolled negative emotions. Studies, using careful observation of toddlers and parent interviews show that these meltdowns are not just one emotion. Most often meltdowns are a short burst of anger followed by a longer period of sadness or despair. Unpacking the specific emotions in a meltdown is a parenting gift.