The single most important step to calm your child’s tantrums or outbursts is to look calm — even if you don’t feel calm.  

In this five-minute episode of What Now? A Parent’s Guide, psychologist Dr. Andrew Kahn explains why the way you look and sound can have a big impact on your child's behavior. He also offers tips for staying cool during heated moments — or fake it till you make it.

For more resources, visit the episode page on Understood. 

Related Resources

• Managing emotions

Timestamps

(00:45) Why you need to look calm  
(02:39) How to project calm in heated moments  
(03:45) What you can practice ahead of time  

Understood.org 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

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.