Whether you are out and about, or in the comfort of your own home, it’s still helpful to know ways to tame your kid’s tantrums when something happens to provoke one. Small children are still learning to control their emotions, and just like adults they get easily frustrated when something isn’t going right. It can be difficult for parents to know how to react and what to do, but these ways to tame your kid’s tantrums will give you the first steps to getting past this bump and moving on.
One of the first ways to tame your kid’s tantrums is for YOU to remain calm. If you blow your lid or get overly excited towards your child, not only do you create even more of a scene, but your child will sense that you have lost control as well. You must stay on top of the situation at all times by remaining calm in order to have any say-so in what happens next.
Not every tantrum a kid throws is because they are angry that they didn’t get their way. Sometimes a tantrum is the only way a tot knows how to say “I’m hungry,” or “I’m tired,” or “I’m not feeling well.” Learn to decipher between different types of tantrums. Most can be easily fixed or altogether avoided if you can stay on top of your child’s needs!
Whatever you do, do not reward your child for throwing a tantrum. Offering candy or treats as a way of getting your little one to stop screaming and kicking will not teach them that it’s not okay to throw a fit. Instead, it teaches them that they can have an attitude and still get treated for it.
When you sense a tantrum coming on, try to take an alternative route. Offer a distraction or a new idea. If you’re in public, bring out a new toy or a snack to divert your child’s attention from the oncoming storm. If your child is already in the thick of a tantrum, gently and firmly take their hand or shoulder, look into their eyes, and say something to calm them. Then offer them a new activity to do or a chance to go somewhere private to calm down.
A child who loses control of their emotions may flop down on any surface without realizing the potential for injury. Try to pay attention to your child’s surroundings when a tantrum is going on to make sure they don’t get hurt with nearby objects. Clear the area of toys or try to pick up your child if the floor is concrete or tile.
One of the niftiest ways to deal with tantrums is to walk away. If you know the tantrum is just over something petty or small, tell your child that you will not speak to them until they behave properly. Walk away and continue on with whatever you were doing before. Once your child realizes that you aren’t giving the tantrum any attention, they will be ready to talk about the real issue at hand.
Once the tantrum is over, and your child is calm, it’s important to sit down and have a discussion. Your child needs to know why tantrums are unacceptable and why we don’t throw tantrums to get our way. If you don’t take the time to explain these things to your child, they will grow up expecting to always get their way or never knowing how to properly express their emotions.
Many different parents have different ways to cope with tantrums. You should choose one that works for you and your child. Some children need some alone time to calm down. Others need something to express their frustration through, such as paper to tear or crayons to scribble with. And some children just need to be held by their parent and be soothed.
Probably the most vital way to teach your kids not to throw tantrums is by training them at home. Kids won’t attempt something in public if they know they can’t get away with it at home. Work on emotion and self-control at home on a regular basis to avoid conflict in public places.
Tantrums can be a parent’s worse nightmare, particularly when they happen on a public outing! These tips and strategies should help you to teach your children not to throw tantrums. Remember, children are still human like everyone else and will have times of frustrations. It’s up to the parents to decide how best to teach your children which ways are acceptable for expressing those frustrations!