🧠 Is It a Tantrum or a Sensory Overload? Here’s Why Knowing the Difference Matters

Have you ever been in a supermarket, your child screaming at full volume, strangers staring, and you silently wondering:

“Is this just a tantrum? Or is something deeper going on?”

You’re not alone. And here’s the truth: Tantrums and sensory overloads look similar, but they’re not the same. Recognizing the difference can dramatically improve how you respond — and how your child learns to cope.

That’s why I created Episode 13 of my YouTube series:
“The Difference Between a Tantrum & a Sensory Overload”

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:The key differences between a tantrum and a sensory meltdownReal-life examples and role-plays to bring each scenario to lifeWhat to say and NOT say in the momentCalming strategies to use when your child is overwhelmedA FREE downloadable cheat sheet to keep handy at home or school

Whether you’re a parent, a shadow teacher, or just someone trying to understand neurodiverse behavior better, this episode is packed with practical wisdom and real-world tools.

Grab Your FREE Cheat Sheet

To make things easier, I’ve also created a printable PDF that includes:

A quick checklist to identify tantrums vs. sensory overloads
What to say in the heat of the moment
A sensory meltdown toolkit checklist
A tracker to identify patterns and triggers

Download the Cheat Sheet

Let’s Talk

In the video, I also answer common questions like:

Can a child have both tantrums and sensory overloads?What can I do to prevent overloads in busy environments?How do I help teachers and family members understand the difference?

You can submit your own questions in the comments — I’ll be doing a follow-up Q&A video soon!

Watch the Episode Now

I truly believe that the more we understand our children, the better we can support them. Let’s stop mislabeling meltdowns as misbehavior.

Click here to watch Episode 13 on YouTube now!
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Thank you for being part of this journey. Let’s keep learning, growing, and advocating — together.