My 3 year old has been having so many meltdowns lately. Sometimes it’s over little things like the wrong snack, and other times it feels like her emotions are just too big for her to handle. We’ve tried talking calmly, giving her space, or redirecting, but nothing seems to work consistently. I want to make sure we’re handling these moments in a way that helps her long, term. What do you all do during tantrums? And how do you reconnect afterward? Any tips?
Ugh, I feel this so much. When my daughter was 3, it felt like she had a switch that flipped out of nowhere! Big emotions are hard. One thing that worked for us was making sure to label her feelings. Like “I see you’re really angry because you wanted the purple cup”. Sometimes, just hearing the words made her calm down faster. After the tantrum, we’d snuggle and read a book together, so she felt loved. It didn’t always work, but when it did, it was such a relief. Hang in there, you’re doing great just by trying to figure this out!
I’ve been through this stage with my kids (now 7 and 9). It was so hard. One thing I learned is that kids this age are still learning how to regulate emotions. It’s like they’re little soda cans that have been shaken up all day, and the tantrum is the explosion. What worked for us was a mix of prevention and reaction.
For prevention, we stuck to routines like glue, consistent meal/snack times, quiet time before nap, bedtime rituals. Kids thrive on predictability.
Omg, this brings me back to when my now teenagers were 3. Tantrums were their second language! Something that worked for me was creating a “calm down corner.” It wasn’t a timeout but a cozy space with pillows, books, and sensory toys.
Hang in there, mama. My daughter is 6 now, and those meltdowns are way less frequent. What helped us was deep breathing exercises. Sounds silly, but modeling it for her worked wonders. I’d sit down and start doing slow, exaggerated breaths, and eventually, she’d join me. Not always, but enough times that it became a go-to for us.
Afterward, we’d have a little “hug it out” moment and say, “It’s okay to have big feelings.” She’s older now and tells me when she needs to take a breath, it’s so worth it to lay the groundwork now!
Oh, I feel for you. Tantrums are so draining. My 5 year old used to have epic meltdowns that left me questioning everything I was doing as a parent. Sometimes, it felt like no strategy worked, and we just had to ride it out. You’re not alone in this, it’s such a common phase, even if it feels endless right now.
Thank you all so much for the advice and support! I love the idea of a calm-down corner, that seems like something my daughter might actually respond to. We’ve been trying to label her feelings too, but sometimes it feels like it just makes her angrier in the moment. Maybe I’m not saying the right thing? I’ll keep trying and focus on routines too. This gives me hope!