08/08/2026
Tantrums are not usually a sign that a young child is being intentionally difficult.
🧠In early childhood, the parts of the brain responsible for managing emotions, controlling impulses, and thinking through situations are still developing. Children can experience very big feelings without yet having the language or self-regulation skills to manage them independently. Hunger, tiredness, frustration, changes in routine, and difficulty communicating can quickly become overwhelming.😨
During a tantrum, try to keep your words simple, your voice calm, and come down to the child’s level. Rather than trying to reason with them in the height of the moment, focus first on helping them feel safe, understood, and calm. Once the emotion has passed, you can talk together about what happened *(even if they are not talking yet) and what they can try next time.
Children learn how to regulate their emotions through repeated calm support from trusted adults.
