Back-To-School Meltdowns, Solved

You Took My Device Explosion

Does your child completely melt down when it’s time to turn off the screen and start homework? You’re not alone. In this episode of Tantrum of the Week, child therapist and parent coach Lynn McLean breaks down a common screen time tantrum many parents of elementary-aged children face. When a child refuses to give up their device—and emotions explode—it can leave parents feeling frustrated, guilty, and unsure how to respond. This episode covers: * Why screen time triggers intense emotional reactions in kids * What’s happening in the brain during a technology-related tantrum * How to prevent power struggles before they start * What to do when your kid is already throwing a tantrum * How to hold limits without escalating the meltdown If you’re dealing with a tween technology tantrum, homework battles, or big emotional reactions around devices, this episode offers practical, compassionate strategies you can use right away. 🎧 Listen to the episode for simple tools to help your child calm down—and help you stay grounded when screen time ends. Thanks for listening to *Tantrum of the Week* with Lynn McLean, LCSW-S, Registered Play Therapist–Supervisor™. New episodes each week to help parents understand and respond to their child’s biggest feelings with calm, confidence, and connection. Learn more about play therapy and parent coaching in Houston, Texas: https://www.houstonfamilytherapyassociates.com/ [https://www.houstonfamilytherapyassociates.com/] Follow us on Instagram: @lmcleanlcsw [https://www.instagram.com/lmcleanlcsw] Check us out on Facebook: Lynn M. McLean, LCSW [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100054475749741&sk=about] 📩 Join our email list for parenting tips and updates: https://lynnmclean.podia.com/newsletter [https://lynnmclean.podia.com/newsletter] ❤️ If you found this helpful, please follow, rate, and share the podcast to help other parents find support.

The "One More Level" Protest

Does your kid lose it when it's time to turn off the screen? You're not alone. Your 8-year-old did everything right. Homework's done, chores are finished, and you set clear expectations. But the moment dinner's ready and it's time to put down the phone? Full-blown tantrum. Sound familiar? Whether you're dealing with a strong-willed child, a kid who won't stop playing video games, or just trying to find the right balance with technology and parenting, this episode gives you quick, expert-backed tools to calm the chaos and prevent the tantrum next time. Thanks for listening to *Tantrum of the Week* with Lynn McLean, LCSW-S, Registered Play Therapist–Supervisor™. New episodes each week to help parents understand and respond to their child’s biggest feelings with calm, confidence, and connection. Learn more about play therapy and parent coaching in Houston, Texas: https://www.houstonfamilytherapyassociates.com/ [https://www.houstonfamilytherapyassociates.com/] Follow us on Instagram: @lmcleanlcsw [https://www.instagram.com/lmcleanlcsw] Check us out on Facebook: Lynn M. McLean, LCSW [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100054475749741&sk=about] 📩 Join our email list for parenting tips and updates: https://lynnmclean.podia.com/newsletter [https://lynnmclean.podia.com/newsletter] ❤️ If you found this helpful, please follow, rate, and share the podcast to help other parents find support.

A Promise That Didn't Happen

In this episode of Tantrum of the Week, Lynn McLean explores a powerful and emotional moment many families experience: a nine-year-old who melts down when a long-anticipated family dinner plan is canceled at the last minute because of work. Even though older children can understand the reason intellectually, broken plans can feel like broken promises—and the disappointment can overwhelm their ability to stay regulated. This episode looks at what’s really happening in a child’s nervous system when plans fall apart and how parents can respond with empathy instead of defensiveness or over-explaining. In this episode, you’ll learn: * Why children take promises so literally * What to say (and what not to say) during moments of big disappointment * Why justifying or fixing the problem in the moment often makes things worse * How to repair trust after a plan changes * How to help children cope with frustration and unexpected change If your child has ever exploded when something they were looking forward to didn’t happen, this episode will help you feel more confident, more connected, and less alone. This content is for educational purposes only and is not therapy. Thanks for listening to *Tantrum of the Week* with Lynn McLean, LCSW-S, Registered Play Therapist–Supervisor™. New episodes each week to help parents understand and respond to their child’s biggest feelings with calm, confidence, and connection. Learn more about play therapy and parent coaching in Houston, Texas: https://www.houstonfamilytherapyassociates.com/ [https://www.houstonfamilytherapyassociates.com/] Follow us on Instagram: @lmcleanlcsw [https://www.instagram.com/lmcleanlcsw] Check us out on Facebook: Lynn M. McLean, LCSW [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100054475749741&sk=about] 📩 Join our email list for parenting tips and updates: https://lynnmclean.podia.com/newsletter [https://lynnmclean.podia.com/newsletter] ❤️ If you found this helpful, please follow, rate, and share the podcast to help other parents find support.

Sibling Bedtime Battles

Episode 8: Sibling Bedtime Battles In this episode of Tantrum of the Week, Lynn McLean talks about a bedtime struggle many families face: a young child who melts down because an older sibling gets to stay up later. What feels like a small difference to adults—just 30 minutes—can feel deeply unfair and overwhelming to a young child. When nightly tantrums take over bedtime, parents are often left exhausted, frustrated, and unsure how to respond without giving in. In this episode, you’ll learn: * Why young children struggle so much with bedtime fairness * What’s happening in your child’s nervous system during these meltdowns * Why trying to teach “fairness” during a tantrum doesn’t work * What to say (and what not to say) when your child is upset * How to hold bedtime limits calmly while staying empathic If bedtime has turned into a nightly battle because siblings have different rules, this episode will help you understand what’s really going on—and how to bring more calm and confidence back to your evenings. Thanks for listening to *Tantrum of the Week* with Lynn McLean, LCSW-S, Registered Play Therapist–Supervisor™. New episodes each week to help parents understand and respond to their child’s biggest feelings with calm, confidence, and connection. Learn more about play therapy and parent coaching in Houston, Texas: https://www.houstonfamilytherapyassociates.com/ [https://www.houstonfamilytherapyassociates.com/] Follow us on Instagram: @lmcleanlcsw [https://www.instagram.com/lmcleanlcsw] Check us out on Facebook: Lynn M. McLean, LCSW [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100054475749741&sk=about] 📩 Join our email list for parenting tips and updates: https://lynnmclean.podia.com/newsletter [https://lynnmclean.podia.com/newsletter] ❤️ If you found this helpful, please follow, rate, and share the podcast to help other parents find support.

When Your Child Lies.

What do you do when your child clearly broke something—but insists they didn’t? In this episode of Tantrum of the Week, Lynn talks about a common parenting moment: a seven-year-old who breaks something and then denies it, even when the evidence is right in front of everyone. Moments like this can feel especially upsetting for parents, because teaching honesty and trust is one of the most important values many families want to pass on to their children. But when kids lie about mistakes, it doesn’t necessarily mean they don’t know right from wrong. In this episode, Lynn explains what may actually be happening developmentally for kids in these moments and how parents can respond in ways that build honesty rather than escalating the conflict. You’ll learn: * Why children sometimes lie when they know they’re in trouble * What’s happening in a child’s brain during these moments * Why arguing about the details often makes things worse * How to respond calmly without turning it into a power struggle * Ways to help kids take responsibility and repair mistakes Parenting moments like this can feel stressful and discour Thanks for listening to *Tantrum of the Week* with Lynn McLean, LCSW-S, Registered Play Therapist–Supervisor™. New episodes each week to help parents understand and respond to their child’s biggest feelings with calm, confidence, and connection. Learn more about play therapy and parent coaching in Houston, Texas: https://www.houstonfamilytherapyassociates.com/ [https://www.houstonfamilytherapyassociates.com/] Follow us on Instagram: @lmcleanlcsw [https://www.instagram.com/lmcleanlcsw] Check us out on Facebook: Lynn M. McLean, LCSW [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100054475749741&sk=about] 📩 Join our email list for parenting tips and updates: https://lynnmclean.podia.com/newsletter [https://lynnmclean.podia.com/newsletter] ❤️ If you found this helpful, please follow, rate, and share the podcast to help other parents find support.