A mom recently told me she asked ChatGPT how to handle tantrums, and was given advice parents hear all the time:
“Don’t give attention during or after a tantrum, or you’ll reward the behavior.”
But she wondered…
“What if my child is genuinely upset and needs comforting? How do I support her without reinforcing the behavior?”
It’s a question most parents wonder, especially if they’re determined to use connection-based parenting methods.
In this episode, we’ll unpack this common question and explore some of the bigger ideas hiding underneath it, including:
👉🏻 What does it actually mean for something to “work” in parenting?
We’ll talk about the lens we use to interpret behavior, why ignoring a struggling child can backfire, and how to support your child through dysregulation without reinforcing behaviors you don’t want to see more of.
In this episode:
- Why “don’t reward the tantrum” is such common advice
- The difference between giving attention to the behavior vs. the child
- What your child’s behavior is telling you
- How to help your child learn healthier ways to express big feelings
RELATED RESOURCES:
⭐️ [Episode 7] Why Kids “Lose It”: What’s Beneath the Big Behaviors
⭐️ [FREE guide] Tantrums, & Meltdowns, & Rages…Oh My!
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