If your junior is ready to blow their top off, tell them that when they're really mad it's OK to ask for a hug. This may seem strange to you, but we started this with our daughter and now I see that most of the times when she is angry, there is some sadness underneath. A hug makes her feel better even if she's not going to get her way or is upset with me or her dad. The more she started asking for this, the quicker her meltdowns ended and the faster the tears and squeezes came on. And while parent wants their child to cry, usually the tears are a sign of getting out all those yucky feelings your kiddo is struggling to deal with and soon enough, there's peace in the "homeland" again.
