Anyhoo here we go
Are goal orientated, ie the child is throwing said tantrum in order to get something that they want
Seeks attention; a tantrum throwing child will look to see whether they are getting a reaction from either you or people around you
A tantrum throwing child will avoid getting hurt
A tantrum ends quickly- a tantrum throwing child usually becomes bored and will move on
They are in control of their actions the entire time
There is no goal, ie no demands are made before the meltdown
No interest in reaction- the child does not care who is watching or how people react to their behaviour
Injury- A child in the midst of a meltdown is reacting on a primal level and therefore may injure themselves unintentionally.
Meltdowns last longer than a tantrum as the child has to calm down at their own pace and according to their own sensory load
The child is not in control of their actions they are literally in survival mode and react instinctively to their distress
There are generally warning signs given off by the child prior to the meltdown, stimming* or spacing out are the most common.
*Self-stimulatory behavior, also known as stimming and self-stimulation, is the repetition of physical movements, sounds, or repetitive movement of objects common in individuals with developmental disabilities, but most prevalent in people with autistic spectrum disorders.