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Behaviour Therapy
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Signs & concerns
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Signs & concerns
Screen-Time Meltdowns in a 2-Year-Old
A meltdown when screen-time ends is usually normal at two, not a sign of a problem — a young brain finds screens hugely rewarding and can't yet manage the disappointment of stopping. Predictable limits, warm warnings, a bridge activity and calm co-regulation help far more than surprise endings. A developmental check is only wise if meltdowns sit alongside delays in talking, pointing, responding to name or connecting with people.
Read the answer AnswerShould I worry about screen-time meltdowns in a 3-year-old?
Screen-time meltdowns in a 3-year-old are almost always typical, not a sign of disorder — a young brain enjoys screens before it can manage stopping them. They usually settle with consistent limits, warnings before transitions and screen-free play. Seek a developmental check only if big feelings are extreme across many situations, include self-injury, or come with delays in talking, playing or connecting. This is reassurance and guidance, not a diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerShould I worry about screen-time meltdowns in a 4-year-old?
Meltdowns when screen time ends are very common and usually normal at four — the upset reflects a still-developing brain learning to switch gears, not a disorder. Screens give fast, intense rewards, so the abrupt "off" feels hard. Predictable routines, gentle warnings and a calm, consistent end usually help. Seek a gentle developmental check only if meltdowns are severe, very long, happen across many everyday transitions (not just screens), or come with delays in talking, play or connecting.
Read the answer AnswerScreen-Time Meltdowns at Five: Should You Worry?
Screen-time meltdowns in a five-year-old are very common and usually normal — they reflect a still-developing ability to manage big feelings and switch from a highly stimulating screen back to the slower real world, not a disorder. Calm routines (countdown warnings, ending on a natural stopping point, having the next activity ready, and staying consistent) help most children settle within weeks. Consider a developmental check only if meltdowns are severe, very frequent across many transitions, involve hurting self or others, or come with delays in speech, social connection or learning.
Read the answer AnswerScreen-Time Meltdowns at Six
Meltdowns when screen time ends are very common and usually normal at six — a developing brain finds it hard to shift away from something rewarding, and managing frustration is still a new skill. On their own, these meltdowns are rarely a worry. Seek a gentle developmental check only if meltdowns are extreme and frequent across many situations, your child struggles to recover, or there are differences in talking, attention, learning or social connection. This is reassurance and support, not a diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerSeparation Anxiety in a 1-Year-Old
Separation anxiety in a 1-year-old is almost always normal and healthy — a sign of secure attachment and growing memory. It typically appears around 8–18 months, peaks near 12–18 months, and fades over the next year. There's no need to worry about the anxiety itself. Seek a calm developmental check only if your toddler seems generally disconnected from people, isn't babbling or gesturing, makes little eye contact, or never settles even with a familiar carer.
Read the answer AnswerSeparation Anxiety in a 2-Year-Old: Should You Worry?
Separation anxiety in a 2-year-old is normal and healthy — a sign of secure attachment, not a problem. It typically peaks between 10 and 18 months and eases as your child learns you always return. Seek a gentle developmental check only if the distress is extreme and unsettling over many weeks, stops everyday life, or comes alongside delays in talking, playing or connecting. This is reassurance, not a diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerShould I Worry About Separation Anxiety in a 3-Year-Old?
Separation anxiety at three is overwhelmingly normal and reflects a secure, loving bond. Most children protest at goodbyes but settle within minutes and find separations easier as they grow. Seek a gentle developmental check only if distress is severe, lasts for weeks, blocks nursery, sleep, eating or play, or travels with other developmental differences — for early support, never a diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerSeparation Anxiety in a 4-Year-Old
Separation anxiety in a 4-year-old is usually normal and not a cause for worry — it is an expected part of emotional development, especially around new settings or changes, and most children settle within a few weeks. A gentle developmental check is wise only when the distress is severe, lasts many weeks, or begins to crowd out play, sleep, school or friendships. This is reassurance and guidance, never a diagnosis — early support is gentle and effective.
Read the answer AnswerSeparation Anxiety in a Young Baby — Should You Worry?
Separation anxiety in a young baby is almost always a healthy, expected stage, not a worry. It typically begins around 6–9 months, peaks at 10–18 months, and fades as your baby learns you always return — a sign of secure attachment. Seek a gentle developmental check only if your baby shows little interest in connecting with familiar people, rarely makes eye contact or shares smiles, doesn't respond to their name by 9–12 months, or if distress so extreme that feeding, sleep and play cannot proceed.
Read the answer AnswerShould I worry about tantrums in a 1-year-old?
Tantrums in a 1-year-old are normal and expected — at this age your child has big feelings but few words, so frustration spills out as crying or screaming. This is communication, not a disorder. A developmental check is only wise if tantrums come alongside delays in talking, connecting or playing, or cause real harm. Early support works best, so trusting your instinct and asking is always good parenting.
Read the answer AnswerShould I worry about tantrums in a 2-year-old?
Tantrums in a 2-year-old are overwhelmingly normal — the sound of big feelings in a child who lacks the words and brain maturity to self-soothe. They peak between 18 months and 3 years and fade as language grows. Seek a gentle developmental check only if tantrums are extremely frequent or long, cause real self-harm or harm to others, or come with very few words or little social connection. This is reason to look early, not a diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerShould I worry about tantrums in a 3-year-old?
Tantrums are completely typical for most 3-year-olds — big feelings meet limited words and a still-developing brain, and they ease as language and self-control grow. A developmental check is wise only if tantrums are very frequent or very long, cause real harm, or come alongside delays in talking, playing or connecting. Even then it means 'let's look', not that something is wrong — and your calm presence is itself the teaching.
Read the answer AnswerShould I worry about throwing objects in a 1-year-old?
Throwing objects at 12–24 months is usually a normal, healthy way toddlers explore cause and effect, grip and release, and how the world responds. It is rarely a concern on its own. Seek a gentle developmental check only if throwing comes with few or no words, no pointing, little eye contact, no response to their name, loss of a skill, or relentless self-injury that cannot be redirected — not as a diagnosis, but because early support works best at this age.
Read the answer AnswerShould I worry about throwing objects in a 2-year-old?
Throwing objects is normal and expected at age two — toddlers are learning cause and effect, building motor skills, and expressing feelings they cannot yet say in words. It usually settles as language and self-control grow. A gentle developmental check is wise only if throwing is constant, aimed to hurt and cannot be redirected, or comes alongside few words, little eye contact or loss of skills. This is about early opportunity, never a diagnosis.
Read the answer AnswerShould I worry about throwing objects in a 3-year-old?
Throwing objects at three is usually normal — play, curiosity, attention-seeking, or frustration when words can't keep up. Respond calmly: name the feeling, show what can be thrown, and praise the moments without throwing. Seek a developmental check only if throwing is frequent, aimed to hurt, very hard to redirect, or travels with delays in talking, understanding or connecting. This isn't a diagnosis — it's an early, gentle look, because support works best at this age.
Read the answer AnswerWhat are the early signs of ADHD?
Early ADHD signs are inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity that are stronger and more persistent than in same-age children, appear before age 12, and show across more than one setting. Under age 4–5 normal energy overlaps heavily, so a persistent, disruptive pattern matters most — and ADHD is never diagnosed from a checklist alone.
Read the answer AnswerEarly Signs of ADHD in a 1-Year-Old Boy
ADHD cannot be diagnosed in a 1-year-old — busy, restless, easily-distracted behaviour is normal, healthy toddler development. There's no meaningful ADHD signs list at this age; ADHD is typically recognised only from around 4–5 years. Instead, watch broad milestones in communication, movement, play and social connection, and bring any worry to a general developmental check.
Read the answer AnswerEarly signs of ADHD in a 1-year-old girl
ADHD cannot be identified in a 1-year-old girl. High energy, short attention and constant exploring are normal and healthy at this age. ADHD is only meaningfully recognised from around age 4–6. At 12–24 months, simply track healthy overall development — name response, pointing, babbling, walking and play — with a routine developmental check.
Read the answer AnswerEarly signs of ADHD in a 12-to-18-month-old
ADHD cannot be diagnosed in a 12-to-18-month-old — high energy and short attention are normal toddler behaviour, not early ADHD. ADHD becomes a meaningful question only from around school age. At this stage, watch broad development — communication, connection, play and movement — and raise any worry early through a general developmental check.
Read the answer AnswerEarly Signs of ADHD in an 18-to-24-Month-Old
ADHD cannot be diagnosed in an 18-to-24-month-old — high activity, short attention and impulsiveness are normal toddler traits, and ADHD (ICD-11 6A05) is recognised only later, usually around school age. At this age, watch overall development in communication, play, sleep and behaviour, and share any worries at a routine developmental check rather than looking for ADHD signs.
Read the answer AnswerWhat are the early signs of ADHD in a 2-year-old?
ADHD is not diagnosed at age two — restlessness, impulsivity and short attention are normal toddler behaviour. Reliable ADHD assessment begins around 4–6 years when traits persist across settings and affect daily life. For any concern at two, a general developmental check is the right, reassuring first step.
Read the answer AnswerEarly Signs of ADHD in a 2-Year-Old Boy
ADHD cannot be meaningfully diagnosed or screened in a two-year-old — high activity, short attention and big feelings are normal at this age. ADHD is recognised later, usually from around 4–6 years. For now, watch overall development (communication, social warmth, play) and book a routine developmental check rather than looking for ADHD signs.
Read the answer AnswerEarly signs of ADHD in a 2-year-old girl
ADHD is not diagnosed at age two — toddlers are naturally restless, impulsive and short on attention. Reliable ADHD assessment becomes meaningful only from around age 5–6, across home and school settings. At two, observe communication, social connection and play, and share any worry at a routine developmental check rather than seeking an ADHD label.
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