Parenting Vivian | 30 Oct 2010 10:52 pm
How to Deal With Temper Tantrums Calmly
Toddlers throw tantrums as a way of expressing anger and frustration. Learning to deal with temper tantrums takes patience, yelling and screaming will only cause the child to respond negatively. What causes a tantrum to form, how to deal with temper tantrums, to how to avoid a tantrum all together. This article will help answer your questions and help you and your toddler get past this phase.
Tantrums are evenly common among both boys and girls. Learning what causes tantrums can help you to deal with tantrums. Toddlers want a sense of independence, when they can’t reach that goal, frustration and anger begin. They start to yell and scream, hit, or even throw themselves on the floor in fits of anger. Tantrums are a normal part of development and dealing with them is not difficult.
When you deal with temper tantrums always remain calm. Don’t try to reason with a child who is having a fit, she is unlikely to listen to reason. Instead make sure she is in a safe place and allow her to kick and scream all she wants. Ignoring the behavior is one of the best ways to deal with tantrums. If a tantrum can be avoided please do so.
Preventing a tantrum from happening is the easiest way to deal with temper tantrums. A tired, hungry, or even bored child can be a big contributor to a tantrum. Avoid taking a trip to a friends house if your child has missed a nap or it’s close to nap time. Schedule activities accordingly. Also, choose your battles with your toddler. Once you choose a battle stick to it though. Giving in will only make things worse.
An important thing to remember when you deal with temper tantrums is to stay calm and ignore the behavior. Don’t punish the child, but don’t reward the behavior either. They are just trying to learn how to express their feelings. They will grow out of this as they get older and learn to control their emotions.