This is what I talked about on my most recent podcast episode: why toddlers throw tantrums and three things you can do about it, starting with not taking them personally.

You can listen to the full episode here.

Most parents don’t understand why their toddler throws tantrums. They think their child is just irrational (which all toddlers are), or that they’ve done something to upset their child. What’s really going on when your child throws a tantrum is more complicated than this.

Developmentally, toddlers are going through a stage in which they are learning they can be separate from their parents. They have learned they have autonomy over their bodies and don’t have to rely on their parents for everything. They can walk. They can pick up a cup and drink. They are learning to feed themselves. They have some eye-hand coordination. And they are feeling this growth as their bodies change and become more capable.

However, toddlers are still toddlers, and their will grows more quickly than their actual abilities. For example, because Tommy has realized his hands can do things they couldn’t before, like use a fork to feed himself, he thinks he’s ready to tie his shoes….