Gentle Ways to Handle a Toddler Meltdown
We’ve all witnessed a toddler tantrum and, sadly, they’re not pretty. Perhaps you’ve carefully prepared your child’s favourite lunch and set their plate in front of them. They take one look, fling the food away from them, and collapse with a wail that could rival a tone-deaf opera singer. Welcome to toddlerhood! It’s a time of wonder, growth … and occasional emotional meltdowns!
The good news? Tantrums are perfectly normal. The bad news? They can happen anywhere — at home, in the supermarket, on the bus, or in that quiet café you thought was your “safe place”. However, understanding why tantrums happen, and having a few tried-and-tested strategies to hand, can make all the difference.
Why Do Toddlers Have Tantrums?
In their earliest years, children’s brains are doing a phenomenal amount of developing. At this stage, little ones understand far more than they can express, and they’re learning to handle powerful emotions without the calm reasoning skills adults (mostly) have. The part of the brain responsible for emotional control is still under construction, so when they’re hungry, tired, frustrated, or simply want something right now, they can easily become overwhelmed. In short, they’re not trying to give you a hard time. They’re having a hard time.
“They’re not trying to give you a hard time. They’re having a hard time.”
Head Off a Tantrum Before It Starts
While not every outburst can be prevented, a little foresight can go a long way. Predictability is a toddler’s best friend, so sticking to a consistent routine can reduce meltdowns. Transitions, such as leaving the park or getting ready for bed, may also benefit from a bit of warning rather than surprising a toddler with a sudden change.
Choice can also be a powerful tool too. Simple, limited options (“Shall we wear the red jumper or the blue one?”) often help children feel some control over their day.
And, of course, let’s not forget the basics; a well-fed, well-rested toddler is usually a calmer one. So, keep an eye out for the early signs of tiredness or hunger, and act to rectify matters before things have time to escalate.
Stay Calm When the Storm Hits
It’s not always easy as a parent, but your own composure is key. A calm, even tone and steady body language tell your child that you’re in control, even if you feel anything but. Also, try avoiding lengthy explanations in the heat of the moment — too many words can overwhelm an emotional toddler.
Safety comes first, though. So, if you’re out and about, make sure your child is in a safe space before you do anything else. Some toddlers respond best to a gentle, reassuring presence; others need a little space to work through their feelings. Either is fine, as long as they know you’re there when they’re ready.
Example:
A Tantrum at Tesco
The nightmare scenario: You’re halfway down the biscuit aisle when your toddler takes an unhealthy shine to a chocolate-covered, sugar-filled snack that’s really not going to be good for them. So, you say no. They flop to the floor, wail at a volume that seems to fill the entire supermarket, and protest in a dramatic fashion that catches the attention of every shopper in the vicinity. Not only is your child in full, public, tantrum mode, but you’re also going to feel judged!
How to handle it with flair:
Keep your voice calm and your response consistent. Offer your little one a brief explanation without entering into a long debate (“We’re not buying that today, but you can choose between bananas or apples”). Show empathy and acknowledge the disappointment (“I know you really wanted that snack”), then gently redirect their focus. That could be achieved by inviting them to choose something else or by giving them a small “shopping job” like holding a loaf of bread. If needed, find a quieter spot to let them work through the big feelings before continuing your shop.
Help Them Learn From Big Feelings
When the volume drops and the tears start to slow, that’s your golden moment. Offer comfort — a cuddle, a hand on the shoulder, or just sitting quietly together. This is also a good time to put words to their emotions: “You were feeling really cross because we had to leave the playground.”
Labelling feelings not only shows empathy, but also helps your child start to recognise and manage those emotions in the future. Once calm is restored, praising their return to positive behaviour reinforces what you’d like to see next time.
Example:
A Toy Tantrum
Scenario: At home, your child sees their sibling or a friend playing with the toy they absolutely must have right now. They shout, try to grab the toy, and then the sobbing begins.
How to handle it:
Step in to keep everyone safe and calm. Use clear, simple language: “It’s not your turn yet. You can play with it when they’ve finished.” Offer a distraction by suggesting another toy or activity they enjoy. Once they’re calmer, talk about taking turns and how everyone gets a chance. Praise them when they do wait patiently, even if it’s just for a short time — that positive reinforcement will help for next time.
Look After You, Too
Repeated tantrums can be exhausting. If you need to and it’s safe for your little one to do so, step into another room for a few deep breaths, or take a short moment for yourself when help is available. Chatting to other parents can be surprisingly reassuring — nothing bonds people quite like swapping “you’ll never believe what happened in Tesco” anecdotes!
Example:
A Tea-time Tantrum
Scenario: Dinner is served, and your child takes one look at the plate and decides it’s the worst thing that’s ever happened to them. Cue gesticulating arms, shouting and, in all probability, some dramatic sliding under the table.
How to handle it:
First, try to stay matter-of-fact — it will demonstrate that this is not a huge deal in the big scheme of things. Also, resist the urge to whip up a separate “peace-keeping” meal. Acknowledge your child’s feelings (“It’s okay not to be keen on everything”), and encourage them to try at least a small bite. It’s important to keep the mealtime atmosphere calm — power struggles over food often make the problem worse. If they refuse to eat, calmly remove the plate when the mealtime ends and offer a healthy snack later if needed. Ensure you’re consistent with this approach in the future.
A Final Word
Tantrums are not forever. They’re simply a stage in your child’s journey towards understanding themselves and the world around them. With patience, empathy, and a few practical strategies, you’ll navigate these storms together — and one day, you may even laugh about them!
Little Acorns Nursery, Clayton-le-Woods
A High-Quality Weekday Childcare Service Near Chorley, Central Lancashire
We hope that today’s tips for taming toddler tantrums will be useful to parents and carers of under-fives. They’re all part of a normal childhood and, in any case, such meltdowns are usually just a short-lived phase. At Little Acorns Nursery in Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley, we’re familiar with such challenges and are always here for parents and families if any further tips and insights are ever required. So, ask away if you ever need a second opinion on ways to counter any challenging situations involving little ones.
If you’d like to explore a possible nursery place for your child at Little Acorns Nursery, please choose an option below:
Little Acorns Nursery is located in Clayton-le-Woods, Central Lancashire, so offers a convenient childcare choice for families near Clayton Brook, Clayton Green, Chorley, Thorpe Green, Pippin Street, Buckshaw Village, Whittle-le-Woods, Farington, Bamber Bridge, Lostock Hall, Euxton, Leyland, and Penwortham.
Today we look at the wonderful Ofsted report published recently for Little Acorns Nursery in Clayton-le-Woods, Chorley. Ofsted is The Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills. Their inspector visited this fabulous Lancashire childcare setting in late August and released its official report a month later on 25 September 2024. Our post today spotlights some of the many glowing comments made by the inspector therein, following her visit. It also highlights the reasoning for ‘good provider’ ratings across all areas of the Ofsted report. Take a look and you’ll see why babies, children under five, and those with special educational needs and/or disabilities absolutely thrive at Little Acorns.
Overall effectiveness: Good
Any good nursery or childcare provider will ensure that children understand right from wrong and are mindful of the effect their actions have on others, including peers. Nurturing good manners and appropriate behaviour amongst little ones benefits everyone including, of course, the children themselves. Ofsted’s latest report recognised that Little Acorns is very successful in this regard:
Children find messy play hugely rewarding as well as being immense fun. Messy play nurtures children’s imaginations, creativity, dexterity, and self-expression and benefits them in many other ways. It is therefore a crucial part of early years learning and development — and more important than it perhaps sounds. Ofsted picked up on the quality of messy play activities at Little Acorns Nursery within its report:
Once babies have transformed into toddlers, it’s never too early to introduce them to maths-based concepts and language. Indeed, introducing under-fives to such concepts in the earliest years will benefit them hugely as it lays the foundations for future learning. That’s one of the main reasons it is a part of 
Familiarity with mathematical terms and concepts also helps to prepare children for formal education, including in many areas other than pure mathematics. Understanding maths concepts from an early age will allow them to confidently engage in number-related exercises and discussions, greatly enhancing their school readiness across multiple topics. Such preparation will allow them to take maths-based challenges in their stride right from the moment they begin Reception Year in primary school. What’s even more striking is that studies show a direct correlation between early mathematical skills and later educational achievement.
Counting is the most obvious example. Counting can be introduced and practised by your little one in many, many situations, from counting how many more mouthfuls of food a child should eat, to the number of Lego blocks in a tower they’re creating.
Shapes also have roots in maths, so children should get familiar with 3-sided triangular shapes, 4-sided shapes like squares and rectangles, and so on.
Creative endeavours can also be vehicles through which supervising adults can highlight elements of mathematics that are built into designs and creations that children may generate. Patterns and shapes are obvious examples of that. Last but not least, parents can involve children in maths facets which are integral to everyday life, for instance, counting items when out shopping, or measuring when putting ingredients together for a meal. Children will love being more involved in such activities and will learn about maths in a fun, natural, and engaging way. Doing so will create the strongest foundations for their future learning.
One of the key tasks all tots must face, in tandem with parents, is potty training. It’s something we all had to master as toddlers and therefore we know it’s 100% achievable — despite it sometimes seeming to be rather a challenge. Achieving success, though, will improve the quality of life for the child, the parent, and other guardians involved in the child’s care. Learning to master the use of the potty and later the toilet will also be a major boost to self-confidence and independence when the child is at nursery, preschool, and later school. With that in mind, today’s guide outlines our top tips for successful potty training.
Children become ready for potty training at different times — every child is different in that respect, with some starting as early as 18 months and others not training until the age of 3. That said, the majority of little ones begin potty training between the ages of 2 and 3. There are some signs to look out for that will help parents decide when the time is right and we’ll look at those below.
Ensuring children understand the language around toileting is helpful, of course. So, it’s healthy to help children learn the various terms involved, whether talking about a potty, wee-wees, or anything else. Learning appropriate words will empower children to ask for what they need, at appropriate times.
Potties with designs that are attractive to toddlers e.g. dinosaurs, licensed TV characters etc.
Only start potty training when your child shows signs that they’re ready. (See the When Should You Begin Potty Training? section above for details).
Children and childcare staff at Little Acorns Nursery love nature. So, with World Wildlife Day coming earlier this month and Spring now upon us, it’s the perfect opportunity to release our free Wild Mammals poster. Shown in full colour and printable in high resolution at A3 or A4, it features 20 British
January’s Big Garden Birdwatch is a perfect home learning opportunity where children can find out about wild birds and get a better understanding of nature itself. What’s more, it’s a hugely worthwhile event that will benefit birds, conservation efforts, and children themselves. The activity also demonstrates how easy it is for little ones to become citizen scientists. With that in mind, let’s explore today the Big Garden Birdwatch, explain what it is, how to take part, and why it’s important for families to get involved.
The idea of the Big Garden Birdwatch is to understand how garden birds are faring in the UK. Sadly, many bird populations are in decline, with some species facing huge declines over recent decades. Some 38 million fewer birds are now seen compared to 60 years ago. Song Thrush populations, for example, are down by 80% since the survey started in 1979. Even House Sparrow numbers have more than halved during that time. By studying the bird populations each year, trends can be identified including whether any bird species are in danger. Then the RSPB and other conservation organisations can work out what the problems are and how we might go about rescuing the situation as a nation. It also follows that, if there is a problem with bird populations, then there is likely to be a wider problem in nature too. This could be, for example, due to disease, over-intensive farming methods, habitat loss, invasive species, climate change, use of chemicals in gardens and farmland, and so on. Gathering data across the UK each January will help guide the nation to improve things — and children can help by getting involved in the Big Garden Birdwatch each January.
— it’s quick, easy and free to do so. Once registered you’ll receive detailed instructions in your free guide to the event, which includes your free bird identification reference sheet. This will be useful to you and your children so each bird species can be recognised more easily.
This wonderful activity is a great way to encourage families outdoors, where children benefit from nature in a myriad of ways. From lower stress and increased well-being to improved academic performance, stimulated imaginations, and better sleep, 
Together with the RSPB, we also have bird identification covered for children. The first option is the RSPB’s free bird reference sheet, which families will receive when they register for the event. Their digital version is best because it’s more environmentally friendly, is quicker to access, and usually shows a larger list than is shown on their printed version.
However, don’t forget that Little Acorns Nursery also published 
How to Encourage Birds to Visit Your Garden
As we discussed in our recent post 
Designate an area in your home for play. It doesn’t need to be elaborate — even a corner with a few age-appropriate toys, books, and art supplies may be sufficient. Ensure, of course, that the space is safe and free from hazards before your child embarks on their play activities.
Outdoor play also offers a wealth of learning opportunities. It promotes physical health, stimulates the senses, and allows for unstructured exploration, which all contribute to holistic development. Take your child to the park, explore nature, or simply play with them in the back garden if you have one. Outdoor activities will also foster an appreciation for the natural world. Indeed, we wrote a whole post about 
Reading is a wonderful way to support learning through play. Choose age-appropriate books, of course, and be sure to engage in interactive storytelling. Ask and encourage questions about the story, encourage your child to predict what might happen next, and ask them what they might do if it were them in the story. Books and reading teach children so many things and, like pretend play above, truly encourage their imaginations and get their creative juices flowing. 
Arrange play dates with other children or involve siblings in play activities at home. Social play helps children learn essential social skills like cooperation, sharing, and conflict resolution. It’s also a great way to make new friendships, learn from each other, and become a closer member of friendship circles.
By mid-November, autumn is in full swing and leaves are turning a myriad of different colours. Scenes of green, yellow, red and golden trees can be breathtakingly beautiful and the air is often crystal clear at this time of year — that’s great for photos! The autumn season also brings with it a treasure trove of fascinating natural things that children can discover if they take the time to look. Indeed, an autumn nature hunt is the perfect excuse for little ones to spend some time outdoors, where they will also 
Ensure children, particularly the very young, receive appropriate adult supervision at all times. Although fascinating and fun, the outdoors holds many hazards for the unwary. Therefore, children will need to be closely monitored by a responsible adult in order to safeguard their well-being.
