How to tell the difference between tantrums and meltdowns (from the “What Now? A Parent’s Guide” podcast)
Nov 21, 2023
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Dr. Andrew Kahn, psychologist and dad, explains the difference between tantrums and meltdowns in children with ADHD. He provides practical strategies for parents to respond effectively, emphasizing the importance of observation and presence. Check out more helpful advice for parents on understood.org.
Differentiating between tantrums and meltdowns is crucial for parents to effectively address their child's needs.
Recognizing the signs of a tantrum versus a meltdown can assist parents in tailoring their responses and accessing additional resources to manage challenging situations.
Deep dives
Understanding Meltdowns
In this episode of the What Now? podcast, Dr. Andrew Kahn discusses the difference between tantrums and meltdowns and how parents should respond to each. Meltdowns occur when a child loses control of their emotional functioning, resulting in an energy explosion where they may be unable to hear or respond to others. The primary goal during a meltdown is to ensure the child's safety until it passes. On the other hand, tantrums are driven by the child's desire to attain attention or something they want or avoid responsibility. Parents can respond to tantrums by avoiding fueling the behavior and setting boundaries. Differentiating between tantrums and meltdowns is crucial for parents to effectively address their child's needs.
Differentiating Between Tantrums and Meltdowns
Dr. Kahn emphasizes the importance of being able to tell the difference between tantrums and meltdowns. He provides a real-world example where parents experiment with leaving the room during a tantrum, which often leads to a significant change in the child's behavior. In tantrums, the child's behavior is influenced by the parent's attention, whereas a meltdown is less responsive to the parent's actions. Recognizing the signs of a tantrum (demanding specific things, responding to attention) versus a meltdown (failing to respond, no matter what the parent does) can assist parents in tailoring their responses accordingly. Staying calm and observing a child during a meltdown while ensuring their safety is essential, as well as accessing additional resources and strategies to manage these challenging situations.
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Understanding the Difference Between Tantrums and Meltdowns in Kids with ADHD
Parents and caregivers: if you have a child with ADHD, you’ve probably dealt with your share of behavior challenges at home. Just in time for the holidays, here we share an episode of Understood’s newest podcast, What Now? A Parent’s Guide to Tantrums and Meltdowns. Listen to psychologist (and dad) Dr. Andrew Kahn explain how to tell the difference between tantrums and meltdowns and what to do next. In each episode, he shares practical strategies to help you respond more effectively to your child’s outbursts — and manage your own stress along the way.
Understood is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people with learning and thinking differences, like ADHD and dyslexia. If you want to help us continue this work, donate at understood.org/give
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