Toddlers aren't exactly the most competent at managing their emotions. It's honestly not their fault, as they lack the developmental capabilities to (and, let's face it, so do some adults). I'm pretty sure everyone thinks they know how to deal with a toddler meltdown, and then they experience one and are at a total loss. Especially since, no two toddler meltdowns are the same. There are multiple reasons why your toddler may be acting out, and signs your toddler's meltdown might mean more than just, "I didn't get my way and now I'm angry." From the expected ones to the most ridiculous, inane toddler meltdowns known to parent-kind, every situation requires some careful consideration because in lieu of fully-formed verbal communication, we have fully-fledged meltdowns.
I remember my daughter hitting two years old and, after a few months, breathing a deep sigh of relief. I thought I had gotten away with one of those rare children who don't really have meltdowns. I thought that maybe it was my superior parenting skills that had contributed to her perfection as a child. I thought that I had beaten the system. Boy, was I wrong. Turns out, my daughter just needed a little time to figure out the most unique and effective ways for her to lose her collective shit and leave me in nothing but a puddle of my own tears.
Sure, those meltdowns seem like complete insanity, but there can be an important message within the thrashing and the screaming and the kicking and the yelling, that definitely warrants your attention. Sometimes, it's not just about wanting the green spoon, no the red spoon, no the yellow spoon. Sometimes, our kids are trying to tell us something important. So, keeping that in mind while you practice the beautiful art of the internal scream, here are six signs that your toddler's meltdown may mean something more: