My questions
Tantrums when leaving the playground
Oliver, age 4 · Submitted 19 Aug
Response ready
Your personal insight
Personal response — Tantrums when leaving the playground
00:0007:42
A note from Samanta
What you are seeing is not defiance — it is a nervous system that has run out of capacity at the end of a long day. In the recording I walk you through a three-part transition ritual and the exact words to use when Oliver is already on the ground.
What you shared
- What is happening right now?
- Every time we leave the playground Oliver drops to the ground, screams and refuses to walk. It can last 15–20 minutes.
- When does it usually happen?
- Late afternoon, usually around 5pm before dinner.
- How often does it happen?
- Almost daily when we visit the playground, 4–5 times a week.
- What usually happens immediately before it?
- He is deep in play, often building something with another child, and I give a two minute warning.
- How does your child respond?
- He goes stiff, cries very loudly, sometimes hits my arm and shouts that I never let him play.
- What have you already tried?
- Timers, counting down, promising screen time later, carrying him home. The timer helps a little sometimes.
- What worries you most about this situation?
- That he cannot cope with disappointment and that other parents think I am too soft with him.
- Is there anything else that would help me understand your child?
- He started preschool three days a week in May and is generally more tired than before.