When your child is in the middle of a tantrum, logic and lectures don’t work. I’ve studied over 200 children and worked with hundreds of families, and one thing is clear: Tantrums aren’t about defiance. Research shows that during emotional overwhelm, a child’s prefrontal cortex (the part of the brain responsible for reasoning and language) essentially goes offline. It’s why “use your words” falls flat when they’re screaming.
