Holiday magic can bring joy—but also tantrums! Learn expert tips to calm big emotions, prevent meltdowns, and keep the season stress-free for your little ones.

During our recent Little Otter Live conversation, experts discussed the importance of seeing tantrums as a sign of “mental health fever,” a term we use to describe behaviors that signal underlying stress. Here’s how to understand tantrums from a mental health perspective and create a supportive environment to help children learn emotional regulation.

The idea behind whole family mental health is that children’s well-being is deeply interconnected with the mental health of their caregivers and siblings. By addressing the relationships within the family, we can create a more supportive, nurturing environment for children to thrive.

Recently, we were privileged to host Dr. Allison Applebaum, a caregiving expert and Director of the Center for Caregiving Science at Mount Sinai. Dr. Applebaum's career is rooted in addressing the emotional and practical challenges caregivers face.