Not all outbursts are the same, and how you respond can have a big impact on your child’s behavior. In this 7-minute episode of of What Now? A Parent’s Guide, psychologist Dr. Andrew Kahn explains how to tell the difference between a tantrum and a meltdown and what to do next.

For more resources, visit the episode page on Understood. 

Related resources

• Taming tantrums vs. managing meltdowns 
• When older kids still have tantrums: What to know  
   

Timestamps

(00:35) Why it helps to know the difference between a tantrum and a meltdown  
(04:45) How to tell a tantrum from a meltdown  
(06:09) What you can do ahead of time

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