Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Subscribe: RSS
In This Episode:
If you’re a parent of a toddler or preschooler, you have likely experienced one of the more challenging aspects of parenting: tantrums. These intense emotional episodes often happen when we least expect it. Perhaps your child melts down at the grocery store or maybe they burst into tears out of nowhere. It can feel overwhelming and sometimes even embarrassing. So, why do children tantrum? And what can we do about it?
In this episode, we’re joined by Sara Reichstadt, early childhood expert and Director of Education at Kinderberry Hill Child Development Centers, a supporting partner of Mom Enough®. Together with Dr. Marti Erickson and Dr. Erin Erickson, Sara unpacks what tantrums really are from a developmental perspective, and why they can feel so unpredictable. Sara shares practical, compassionate strategies for supporting children during these intense emotional moments, helping parents stay connected rather than reactive. She also highlights what matters most after a tantrum ends, including ways to reconnect. Finally, Sara offers easy to use approaches to reduce the frequency and intensity of tantrums by supporting children’s emotional regulation skills.
If you’re parenting a toddler or preschooler – or supporting others who are – you won’t want to miss this episode and the reassuring insights and practical tools that will help you navigate the big feelings with warmth, calm, and connection.
WHAT WILL YOU DO WHEN YOUR CHILD HAS A TANTRUM?
What feelings come up for you when your child has a tantrum? How might those emotions affect how you respond in the moment? How does understanding why children have tantrums shift how you view your child’s behavior?What strategies in this episode are you most likely to use? What will support you in remembering to use them in the moment?
