My DD, almost 5, is usually a very easy going, happy and kind girl. I'm getting glowing reports from her school about her behaviour and I had the same from her previous nurseries. Everyone thinks she is wonderful.
However...at home she is obviously free to express herself and she'd have the odd tantrum, but nothing too bad. Now, on the odd occasion she's have this absolute outbursts/meltdowns in public, usually playgrounds.
For instance yesterday we were meeting a friend of hers at the playground. Her friend was very late (30 - 40 mins) and so we really thought she wasn't coming anymore. She got upset about it, had a little cry, then she moved on and started talking to other kids. Then her friend appeared and they were both happy. She went on a big climbing frame, designed for older children, and although she did climb it before, yesterday she was struggling. She kept getting upset that she wasn't able to move around it easily, couldn't quite work her way through it, and so I said it's time to get down. She kept changing her mind on whether she wanted to be up or down and eventually I got her down at her request, at which point she started screaming, threw herself onto the ground and when I tried to pick her up she started hitting me...absolute meltdown. This was happening in the middle of a group of children and parents and everyone had a concerned look on their face.
She eventually got up, then went on an easier climbing frame, went to the top, still crying and pushing things in frustration. 15 mins later she got over it and was her happy self again.
And I feel devastated when this happens. It happens probably once in a few months so it always takes me off guard. By the time it comes again, I'll have forgotten about it. I felt sick to my stomach as I just don't know how to deal with this public display of such negative emotions. She's got lots of friends and I honestly don't see any of them having such meltdowns.
Can anyone relate? Are there any resources to help me understand this kind of behaviour?