Using the word meltdown when they mean tantrum?

[TheHeadOfTheHouse]

Has anyone noticed that nobody says tantrum anymore?

Every time a child has a tantrum, theres a parent saying they’re having a meltdown.

Theres a massive difference between a tantrum and a meltdown, but it appears hardly anybody likes to say their child is having a tantrum anymore.

Such a first world problem, but it really annoys me 🤣

Annoys me too. Don’t mind so much if it’s used to describe a ND child who cannot help it, but applying meltdown to a perfectly normal kid who just can’t behave irritates me.

one person’s “tantrum” is another’s “meltdown”

It's just a word. Language moves on.

I object to anyone using "meltdown" unless it involves a nuclear reactor incident.

This does irritate me too - a tantrum is a normal reaction to a child not understanding, not wanting to understand,being overtired or just an extreme reaction- it’s normal it’s acceptable and it’s manageable even to a child who has additional needs.
A meltdown is an extreme reaction when a child is terrified unable to control their behaviours,reactions and simply cannot cope, it is overwhelm to the extreme- it is a situation where the child simply cannot cope and all senses are in high alert.

To use the word meltdown instead of tantrum is such bad taste and really undermines the sheer struggle someone suffering meltdowns contend with.

A tantrum is a form of meltdown though, the two can be used interchangeably even if they have other meanings.

To use the word meltdown instead of tantrum is such bad taste

oh good lord

No one owns words. Unless they're trademarked.

This. The OP doesn't get decide what the boundary is.

What is the massive difference between a tantrum and a meltdown? The dictionary definition of a meltdown is an uncontrolled emotional outburst or a breakdown of self-control (for example resulting from fatigue or over-stimulation). That could certainly describe a tantrum too. I realise that 'meltdown' is often used specifically to refer to ASD meltdowns, but tbh it's not clear why, given the actual definition. It seems a bit unreasonable to get annoyed with people for using a term which does actually accurately describe what's happening.

😂😂😂

I would generally distinguish between my DS having a tantrum and a child with ASD having a meltdown

No, it isn’t.

A tantrum is an emotional response the child can be calmed from, distracted from or has a purpose. Angry, scared, upset, jealous, tired, hurt… it’s about emotion.

A meltdown is an involuntary response to overstimulation. Giving the child what they wanted won’t help, distracting won’t help.

A tantrum doesn’t denote a kid “who just can’t behave”. All kids have tantrums.

I have a friend who insists her son has ND because of his "meltdowns". These meltdowns never happen unless he has to do something he doesn't want to do. If it were my child it would be a tantrum. However as she says he is ND we all just have to watch him get away with whatever he wants with no discipline or consequences.

but what was a tantrum to my son
was a meltdown to my daughter

it’s all relative

That's your definition. It isn't standard or generally accepted. Therefore you can't insist anybody else uses it.

All kids have both IME. I use meltdown when they're past the point of reason and you're just screwed regardless, but I can't get worked up about what others used.

They're both colloquialisms really, and broad synonyms.

I dont find it surprising to see “meltdown” being used more commonly now. If MN is anything to go by people are overeager to interpret anything they see as “possibly sen”, so that term is much safer to use than “tantrum” lest someone might feel offended.

I had no idea of the difference between tantrums and meltdowns until I read it on MN somewhere, it's not something I've seen elsewhere and nobody IRL has ever told me. Until I knew I would have used then Interchangeably. I suspect many people using meltdown just aren't aware of the difference.

which dictionary are you quoting here?

The difference according to whom though? It's not like they're medical definitions or anything.

Or.. maybe their kid is having a meltdown they just used to be dismissed as a "tantrum" previously

This.

A tantrum can be resolved by giving in to what the child wants and is tantrumming over. There is a level of control from the child.

When my DD8 has a meltdown, it is not the last thing that has occurred before it happens that causes it; it is the build up of many emotions and sensory experiences that she has bottled up. She has absolutely zero control, there is no way of placating her; we literally have to wait until it's pretty much burnt out. It's almost like a panic attack.