Tantrums are one of the most challenging (and common!) parts of parenting—and this conversation with Dr. Cara Goodwin, child clinical psychologist and founder of Parenting Translator, is the supportive deep breath you didn’t know you needed.
In this video, Dr. Sterling sits down with Dr. Goodwin to talk about what really causes tantrums, what the latest science says about how to handle them, and why we need to stop blaming ourselves when they happen. With warmth and wisdom, Dr. Goodwin explains how tantrums are a normal part of child development (yep, even the dramatic ones in Target), and walks us through how to support our kids before, during, and after big emotional moments.
You’ll learn:
– Why tantrums happen (hint: it’s brain development, not bad behavior)
– What the research says about co-regulation, emotion coaching, and setting limits
– How to use choices and transitions to prevent meltdowns
– Scripts that don’t always work—and why that’s totally okay
– How to model emotional regulation as a parent
– What to do when hitting, kicking, or throwing enters the mix
– Why self-care isn’t selfish—it’s part of being a calm, regulated parent