28/11/2025
Week 2 Little Mind Masters Weekly Wellbeing:
The Emotional Volcano: Spotting the Signs Before a Meltdown
Every parent knows that moment. Your child is absolutely fine one minute & the next, they’re in full emotional eruption mode. Tears, shouting, shutting down, refusing to listen & you’re left wondering, “How did we get here?”
The truth is meltdowns rarely come out of nowhere.
Children give us little clues long before the explosion. We just haven’t always been shown what to look for.
Think of it like this... Emotions build up like layers
Imagine your child like a volcano. Under the surface, feelings start to bubble. It could be one or a few of the following: frustration, overwhelm, worry, tiredness, sensory overload, hunger, confusion
When those layers stack up without an outlet, the pressure builds & eventually, boom!!
Early signs to look out for:
Most children show tiny shifts before the meltdown. These can be subtle, but once you know them, you’ll start spotting them easily. Eg: becoming unusually quiet or withdrawn, fidgety, restless or clingy, snapping over small things, rushing around, being silly, struggling to follow simple instructions, increased sensitivity to sound or touch.
Your child isn’t being difficult, they’re overwhelmed & their nervous system is asking for help.
How to cool the volcano
When you notice these early signs, gentle interception works wonders.
1. Pause & Connect
A calm tone & simple statement:
“It looks like things are feeling a bit big right now. I’m here with you.”
2. Offer Choice
Children feel out of control in these moments, so choices help them feel safe:
“Do you want a minute on your own, or a cuddle?”
3. Movement Reset
Movement releases emotional pressure quickly:
Slow walking, stretching, star jumps, shake-out dance
4. Colour Breathing (yes, it works perfectly!)
“Breathe in your calm colour… breathe out your busy colour.”
You’re not supposed to get it perfect. All children have meltdowns. All children feel overwhelmed. All parents get caught off guard sometimes. By spotting the early signs & stepping in gently, you can prevent many eruptions & help your child learn the skills to cool themselves down in the future.
If your child struggles with big emotions, emotional overload or frequent meltdowns, my Little Mind Masters sessions gently teach them how to calm their minds & understand their feelings with confidence.
Here’s to calmer days & fewer volcano moments.
Les x