Name the Wish One of my favorite tantrum strategies is to name the wish underneath a child’s meltdown—literally say out loud what your child is wishing for that they aren’t getting. There’s always an unmet wish to be found, whether it’s something tangible, like ice cream for breakfast, or something more internal, like wanting more independence or to feel heard. When we name the wish, we immediately see beneath the surface and identify what feels so hard—wanting and not having. Naming the wish connects you with your child, brings out your empathy, and makes your child feel seen, which helps
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