Tantrums: Nurturing ways to help your child
As difficult as they can be to manage, tantrums are a normal part of childhood development. In this question-and-answer episode, we have dedicated the full duration of the show to tantrums. We find out what they are, where they come from, and how we, as parents, can handle them. Engaging our children during a tantrum might seem like a logical next step, but in this episode, we explain why that might not necessarily be the case. When it comes to coping with tantrums, it’s about striking a balance. We take time to discuss what this balance is and why the extremes on either side of it are easy to fall into. Don’t worry though, because we also take a look at the role of the parent and find out what qualities are most useful for dealing with tantrums, which include an understanding of brain development, providing a healthy day rhythm, holding boundaries, listening with compassion, and having empathy. Following this, we look at tantrums through a biological lens, finding out more about the prefrontal cortex and its accompanying limbic system and reptilian brain. Toward the end of the episode, we touch on the importance of rhythms, listening with compassion as a skill, and why empathy is a major game-changer.
Key Points From This Episode:
- Introducing today’s Q&A topic: Tantrums - Nurturing ways to help your child.
- Why tantrums are normal.
- What tantrums actually mean and when they can manifest.
- What happens when we engage our children or contemplation or conversation.
- Finding a balance with your child and the way they use tantrums.
- Understanding the role of the parent and brain development.
- The prefrontal cortex and its purpose.
- Why rhythm is good for young children.
- Why healthy boundaries are necessary.
- Listening with compassion is a skill.
- Why empathy is a useful tool.
