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Before we dive into solutions, it’s essential to understand what triggers a meltdown. Toddlers are in a stage of rapid emotional and intellectual development. They are trying to understand the world around them, which can be overwhelming.

There are also different stages to meltdowns and what you do during each stage of a meltdown can be different.

Another factor to consider is proactively looking at what could be the root of the meltdown. In this instance it is possible to stop a meltdown in seconds or even before one even happens!

There are 5 Key Skills I highly recommend you teach your toddlers starting as soon as 8 months!

1. Help
2. Turn
3. Share
4. Waiting
5. Emotions-happy/sad

This is really important because they could be a meltdown aggravator.

There are also 5 Meltdown Triggers that can bring on a Meltdown especially when concerning those 5 Key Skills.

1. Transitions
2. Overstimulation
3. Frustration
4. Physical Discomfort
5. Lack of Control

I honestly hear a lot of examples of teaching children the 5 key skills in a very sterile and controlled way.

But here is where I disagree with it. It can be organic play and mostly likely your child is already doing these skills.

You as the parent just haven’t let your toddler know it. You didn’t catch the moment and praise it, let them know about it. This is why provided play opportunities is so important.

And if your drawing a lot of attention to what a toddler shouldn’t be doing, then that’s all their hearing. And if they are seeking attention from you then that is what is going to do, that behavior you didn’t want, to get that attention.

I’ve heard parents say their toddlers are terrors at the age of two and it doesn’t have to be that way. Of course, there will be challenging times but overall your toddler could be terrific a good percentage of the time if you work on the 5 Key Skills but there is more to it.

It’s not just working on those skills but its how you do it. It’s also a lot about clear, concise and effective communication that your toddler understands.

It’s also upholding boundaries and consequences when appropriate.

If this feels overwhelming, I highly recommend you get my simple guide, 3 Steps to Less Meltdowns to get you started off on a more clear path. If you seek more direction and organization, then I highly recommend Meltdown Mastery: The Listening and Skilled Toddler Mini-Course where I go over easy methods to add to your parenting toolkit that work quick and you can implement right away.

~Heather

Twin Mama, Teacher for 10 years, Behavioral Expert & Parenting Coach, M.Ed.