The Science of Meltdowns vs. Tantrums
Location: Nova Scotia, Canada Topic: Emotional Regulation & Neurological Stress Responses Note: To respect the privacy of the children and families I have worked with, names and specific identifying details have been changed. "Milo" is a pseudonym used for the purpose of this educational case study. Introduction: The Public Gaze In the quiet aisles of a grocery store in Nova Scotia , or the busy hallways of our daycare center, I have often seen "the look." It’s the look bystanders give a parent or teacher when a child is screaming on the floor. It is a look of judgment that says, "That child needs discipline." But as an Early Childhood Educator working with children like Milo , I know that what looks like a "temper tantrum" to the untrained eye is often something much deeper and more painful: a neurological meltdown . One is a choice to gain something; the other is a total collapse of the nervous system. In this twenty-fifth post, we dive i...