My Kid Lives in Melt Down City

Listen to Audio

Do You Have a Kid Living in “Melt Down City?”

AKA every little thing results in a major meltdown. Maybe one of your kids is like this all the time, or maybe they’re just going through a rough season. Either way, we’ve had our fair share of kids with BIG emotions. Today, we want to share a very simple way to help meet them where they are when their emotions seem to overtake them.

One little word… Validate.

When your child is having a meltdown, it can be tempting to quickly change the subject, distract them, or even get frustrated with them. We get it—big emotions are hard to navigate, and they can feel very frustrating. But here’s the truth: one simple way to build trust and connection is by trying to understand where they’re coming from and validating their feelings (even if you think their feelings are a bit silly—obviously :)).

Validating emotions strengthens your relationship rather than damaging it.

Here are some simple phrases you can say:

• “I understand you are feeling mad about that, and I am really sorry that upset you.”
• “I have totally felt the same way, and I didn’t like that feeling either.”
• “Man, that is such a bummer, and I am sad about that too.”

By validating their emotions, you help your kids feel like they can trust you and come to you when they’re struggling with big feelings. This simple practice builds relational trust—trust that becomes the foundation for healthy, lifelong relationships.