Tantrums are VALID, Meltdowns are VALID.

I repeat,

Tantrums are valid, meltdowns are valid.

I feel kinda sorry for tantrums sometimes.

They’re usually treated with less validity than meltdowns, and this only shows a misunderstanding of what behaviours are at their core.

Tantrums may involve cognitive pre-planning (whilst meltdowns are void of cognitive functions), but they are no less significant and no less indicative of what’s going on in the brain.

It’s actually true (hyper empath here!) but I genuinely do sometimes feel sorry for tantrums (not my own children’s tantrums though 😂). The “child A is having a meltdown, but child B? That’s just bad behaviour” mentality gets to me.

Both are equally valid behaviours, and both tell us something important about the child and how they’re coping at that moment.

Tantrums are part of the human experience, release a ton of emotion, are indicative of executive functioning development and provide an outlet for child autonomy and ownership of their wants and needs.

They aren’t the lesser valid version of a meltdown.

So parents of children having tantrums?

Have no shame!

And parents of children having meltdowns?

Spare some extra lovin to the ones managing tantrums.

Cause when it comes down to it they aren’t that different – they really are just a bi-product of a brain that isn’t coping with something in that moment.

 

Want to learn more, download my FREE e-book on the 12 Pillars of Braincare here https://www.allisondavies.com.au/brain-care-ebook/