How to calm your toddler fast: 3 steps backed by a child psychologist

Kicking, screaming, dramatically collapsing onto the floor - what parent or caregiver hasn't experienced or witnessed a toddler tantrum first-hand? There's no shortage of advice on how to handle them , often with a focus on quashing or avoiding these meltdowns. But Milena Gonzalez, an author and psychologist specialising in child and adolescent psychotherapy, addresses this topic from a different perspective and offers a strategy - called the "3 Ps" - on how to handle tantrums in children up to 18 months old.

A tantrum can be considered a literal cry for help and, depending on the type of child, it may require a different response than you think. "A common mistake is that we interpret a tantrum as a personal challenge, a lack of respect, or a problem to be nipped in the bud," says Gon