In this episode of Tantrum of the Week, Lynn McLean explores a powerful and emotional moment many families experience: a nine-year-old who melts down when a long-anticipated family dinner plan is canceled at the last minute because of work.

Even though older children can understand the reason intellectually, broken plans can feel like broken promises—and the disappointment can overwhelm their ability to stay regulated. This episode looks at what’s really happening in a child’s nervous system when plans fall apart and how parents can respond with empathy instead of defensiveness or over-explaining.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why children take promises so literally
• What to say (and what not to say) during moments of big disappointment
• Why justifying or fixing the problem in the moment often makes things worse
• How to repair trust after a plan changes
• How to help children cope with frustration and unexpected change

If your child has ever exploded when something they were looking forward to didn’t happen, this episode will help you feel more confident, more connected, and less alone.

This content is for educational purposes only and is not therapy.

Thanks for listening to *Tantrum of the Week* with Lynn McLean, LCSW-S, Registered Play Therapist–Supervisor™.

New episodes each week to help parents understand and respond to their child’s biggest feelings with calm, confidence, and connection.

Learn more about play therapy and parent coaching in Houston, Texas: https://www.houstonfamilytherapyassociates.com/

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