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Behaviour Therapy
Explore explanations, everyday questions and next steps connected with behaviour therapy.
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At home
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At home
How do I handle not playing with other children in a 5-year-old?
Most five-year-olds who hang back from peers simply need more practice and gentle support. Set up short one-to-one playdates, coach joining-in phrases and turn-taking, reduce overwhelming noise and crowds, and follow your child's interests. Seek a developmental check if there's little interest in other children across all settings, difficulty with back-and-forth play, or persistent parent or teacher concern.
Read the answer AnswerHow do I handle running off in public in a 1-year-old?
Running off at age one is normal exploratory development, not misbehaviour — toddlers can't yet understand danger or stop on command. Keep them safe through prevention: reins or hand-holding near roads, safe spaces to run freely, calm retrieval, and gentle 'stop' practice as a game. Mention it to a professional only if it comes with no checking back, no response to name, or no pointing, babble or walking.
Read the answer AnswerHow do I handle running off in public in a 2-year-old?
Running off is normal toddler impulsivity — handle it with prevention (reins, hand-holding, trolley seats), a practised "stop" word rehearsed as a game, and warm praise for staying close, rather than punishment. Mention it at a developmental check if your child also rarely responds to their name, seems unaware of danger, or has little shared attention or words.
Read the answer AnswerHow do I handle running off in public in a 3-year-old?
Running off at three is usually a normal stage of curiosity and still-forming impulse control. Handle it with prevention (hand-holding, predicting danger zones, shorter outings), calm teaching of 'stop' and 'come back' as a game, and steady responses. Seek a developmental check if running is frequent, danger-unaware, or paired with limited language, eye contact or response to name.
Read the answer AnswerHow do I handle running off in public in a 4-year-old?
Running off at four is usually impulse, excitement or sensory escape — not defiance. Predictable routines, a rehearsed safety rule, a safe place to run, and physical safeguards in risky spots reduce it sharply. A developmental check helps if running is constant, danger-unaware, or paired with speech or social differences.
Read the answer AnswerHow do I handle screen-time meltdowns in a 2-year-old?
Screen meltdowns at two are normal — a toddler's brain can't yet stop a reward on its own. Warn before stopping, end towards a planned next activity, name the feeling, and stay calm and consistent. Meltdowns shrink over a few weeks of steady routine.
Read the answer AnswerHow do I handle screen-time meltdowns in a 3-year-old?
Screen-time meltdowns at three are normal — a young brain struggles to stop something rewarding and switch gears. Use a set limit, a visual timer, gentle warnings, and a ready next activity; stay calm and hold the limit kindly rather than reopening the screen. Mention it at a developmental check only if intense tantrums span many everyday transitions.
Read the answer AnswerHow do I handle screen-time meltdowns in a 4-year-old?
Screen-time meltdowns at four are about the hard work of transitions, not bad behaviour. Set the limit out loud first, give gentle countdowns, offer something to move towards, and stay calm and close during the storm without giving the screen back. Consistent limits and screen-free play over the week reduce the fights.
Read the answer AnswerHow do I handle screen-time meltdowns in a 5-year-old?
Screen-time meltdowns in a five-year-old are usually a transition problem, not misbehaviour. Set the limit before the screen goes on, use timers and warnings, offer a next activity, and co-regulate calmly during the storm while holding the limit. It is age-typical behaviour; look closer only if extreme meltdowns happen daily across many settings.
Read the answer AnswerHow to Handle Screen-Time Meltdowns in a 6-Year-Old
Screen-time meltdowns in a 6-year-old reflect an overwhelmed, still-developing self-regulation system, not naughtiness. Prevent them with limits set in advance, clear warnings and a planned next activity; meet the meltdown with calm presence, holding the limit kindly without handing the screen back. Persistent extreme reactions beyond screens warrant a general developmental check.
Read the answer AnswerHow do I handle separation anxiety in a 1-year-old?
Separation anxiety in a 1-year-old is a normal, healthy sign of secure attachment that usually peaks between 10 and 18 months. Handle it with short, warm, predictable goodbyes, never sneaking away, and gentle practice through peek-a-boo and brief separations. Stay calm and keep routines steady. Seek a friendly developmental check only if distress is extreme across settings or comes with loss of skills.
Read the answer AnswerHow do I handle separation anxiety in a 2-year-old?
Separation anxiety at two is a normal, healthy developmental stage — your toddler knows you exist but can't yet trust you'll return. Short, predictable, confident goodbye routines, never sneaking away, and practising small separations help it ease over the coming months. Seek a developmental check only if the distress is extreme, not improving, or paired with delays in talking or playing.
Read the answer AnswerHow do I handle separation anxiety in a 3-year-old?
Separation anxiety at three is a normal, healthy sign of secure attachment. Use short consistent goodbye rituals, always say goodbye rather than sneaking out, practise brief separations, and offer a comfort object. Look closer only if distress is intense, lasts many weeks, or disrupts sleep, eating and play.
Read the answer AnswerHow do I handle separation anxiety in a 4-year-old?
Separation anxiety at four is normal and healthy. A short, predictable goodbye ritual, honest reassurance, practising small partings, and never sneaking away build your child's trust that goodbyes always end in reunions. Seek a developmental check only if severe distress lasts beyond four weeks or stops eating, sleep or preschool.
Read the answer AnswerHow do I handle separation anxiety in a young baby?
Separation anxiety in babies is a normal, healthy milestone appearing around 6–8 months and peaking by 10–18 months — a sign of secure attachment, not a disorder. Handle it with short, warm, predictable goodbyes, calm reunions, peek-a-boo practice and a comfort object, and stay calm yourself. Check with a clinician only if distress is extreme across all settings or paired with delays in babbling, eye contact or social smiling.
Read the answer AnswerHow do I handle tantrums in a 1-year-old?
Tantrums at age one are a normal, expected part of emotional development — not a behaviour problem. Your toddler feels big feelings without the words to manage them. Stay calm and close, name the feeling simply, keep them safe, and wait the wave out. Predictable routines, naps, snacks and small choices reduce triggers over time.
Read the answer AnswerHow do I handle tantrums in a 2-year-old?
Tantrums at two are normal and reflect big feelings outpacing language. Stay calm, keep your child safe, name the feeling, and reconnect afterwards. Prevent with sleep, snacks, small choices and transition warnings. Seek a check if they're extreme, self-injurious, or paired with few words.
Read the answer AnswerHow do I handle tantrums in a 3-year-old?
Tantrums at three are a normal developmental stage — a big feeling meeting a brain that hasn't yet learned language or self-control. Stay calm, name the feeling, keep your child safe, hold boundaries kindly and reconnect afterwards. Prevent storms by managing hunger, tiredness and transitions. Seek a developmental check if tantrums are very frequent, prolonged or paired with delays.
Read the answer AnswerHow do I handle throwing objects in a 1-year-old?
Throwing objects at one year is normal cause-and-effect learning, not misbehaviour. Handle it by redirecting to safe throwing (soft balls, beanbags), staying calm with unsafe throws to avoid rewarding them, and using consistent, repeated gentle limits rather than punishment.
Read the answer AnswerHow do I handle throwing objects in a 2-year-old?
Throwing at two is usually normal exploration and a way to handle big feelings, not misbehaviour. Redirect to safe throwing, stay calm with unsafe throws, and name the emotion underneath. Seek a developmental check if throwing is intense, persistent and paired with few words or social differences.
Read the answer AnswerHow do I handle throwing objects in a 3-year-old?
Throwing at three is usually normal exploration or a way to show big feelings without words. Stay calm, redirect throwing to where it's allowed, name the emotion, and praise alternatives. Seek a developmental check if it's constant across settings, aimed to hurt, or paired with very few words or limited pretend play.
Read the answer AnswerWhat is one Everyday Therapy activity to help my child with aggression control?
One calm everyday activity — a 'calm-down corner' with a settling glitter jar — helps a 3–7 year old notice and release anger safely, building emotional regulation through repeated co-regulation rather than punishment.
Read the answer AnswerWhat is one Everyday Therapy activity to help my child with attention to others?
Try the "Look what I have!" game: hold an interesting object near your face, name it warmly, then pause and wait for your child to look at you — and reward that glance instantly with delight. Five joyful minutes a few times a day builds attention to others, the foundation of shared social interest.
Read the answer AnswerWhat is one Everyday Therapy activity to help my child with behaviour patterns?
A simple, consistent "first–then" routine paired with specific praise helps a young child predict expectations, feel calmer, and show more of the behaviour you want — the everyday foundation of positive behaviour support.
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