It may sound surprising, but praising your child for what they did correctly when they got upset can help prevent future tantrums or meltdowns.  

In this five-minute episode of What Now? A Parent’s Guide, psychologist Dr. Andrew Kahn explains how to notice your child’s self-calming efforts and give detailed praise so they’ll know what you want them to do again in the future.  

For more resources, visit the episode page on Understood.  

Related resources

• The best way to praise kids who learn and think differently

Timestamps

(00:40) Why the right kind of praise can make a big difference  
(02:38) How to praise proactively  
(03:45) What you can practice ahead of time  

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