Tantrums are just an experience toddlers display when they’re feeling big emotions (frustration, anger, disappointment, jealousy etc.). Because their brains are so young they don’t have the ability to process what they’re feeling and therefore we see displays of crying, throwing things, hitting, kicking etc. Clinical psychologist (and one of my most favorite authors on child development) Daniel Siegel encourages parents and caretakers to work with the brain’s cognitive function as a way to calm an emotionally elevated toddler using a technique called "Connect and Redirect."

In this video I share a real life example how I handle a situation where my son is feeling frustrated and is screaming and throwing his toys. I apply Daniel Siegel’s “Connect and Redirect” technique to calm him down and explain the different components (how it works and why it works).