Explore what behaviour may be communicating, including meltdowns, refusal, anxiety, demand sensitivity and boundaries.
A child is crying on the floor because it is time to leave the park. Is it a tantrum? A meltdown? Does the difference even matter? The words are often used interchangeably, but they can describe quite different experiences. Understanding what may be happening underneath the behaviour can help us decide what kind of support…
“Put your shoes on and you’ll get a sticker.” “If you stay in your bed tonight, you can earn a star.” “Five stars and you get a prize.” Reward charts can be incredibly appealing. They make expectations visible. They give children something concrete to work towards. And for some children, they can be genuinely motivating….
You ask your child to put their shoes on. They scream that they hate shoes, throw one across the room and collapse onto the floor. Ten minutes later, when they are calm, they can tell you exactly what they could have done differently. So why couldn’t they do it in the moment? Dan Siegel’s Hand…
“I won’t let you hit.” “The iPad is finished.” “We aren’t buying that today.” “It’s time to leave.” Children need boundaries. They also need connection. And these two things are not opposites. A boundary does not have to come with anger, withdrawal, shame or disconnection in order to be effective. We can be clear about…
You ask them to put their shoes on. “No.” You remind them it is time for a bath. “No.” You offer the blue cup instead of the red one. Still no. When a child seems to resist almost everything we ask, it can quickly start to feel deliberate. They know what needs to happen. They…