All the children (1-5 years) do tantrum but how to handle toddler’s tantrum is the most important question.
At that moment of child’s behaviour, we get irritate and anxious and it is normal for parents. Just because we don’t know why toddlers do tantrum.
Shouting, screaming or slapping is not the solution. It makes the situation more miserable. It is not good for the child as well as parent.
Toddlers are too young to understanding and expressing their emotions. Their brain is in under development and so to control them is little tricky. May be handling them is tricky but not impossible.
Their tantrum will go off after sometime but how you have treated them in their sensitive time will mould their personality.
Here, are 7 tips to help you to control toddler’s tantrum.
Stay calm at that moment
Yeah, I know that to be calm at this point is difficult but your behaviour really matters at that difficult situation.
Try to stay calm and if you can’t then don’t express your anger in front of your child.
They become more anxious if you’re going irritated.
To shout or slap is a big no, because they do not understand why are you shouting and maybe they start crying more loudly.
You need to be patience to handle this situation. When you show them that you are calm and trying to understand them, they are starting cool down; their restlessness going down after some time.
Try to understand their feelings
This is most precious time for kids to learn social skills, languages, behaviour, emotions and many more, means this is learning period for them.
They try to speak new words, doing modelling of our behaviour. They are trying to express their emotions.
These overloaded task makes them restless. Sometimes they feel unable to express their feeling and start crying or screaming and we get confuse for why they are doing so.
Maybe they need something and trying to explain but fail and starting tantrum.
These all going on around them and that’s why they doing some unpleasant behaviour so. try to understand them and their feelings.
Make your toddler routine all set
Toddlers are always over active whole the day. The energy level of them is too high to control by parents.
So many times, they make tantrum when they are hungry or exhausted, or feeling tiredness and are unable to express their words and become hyper.
To avoid this, make their routine all set, their lunch and dinner time, extra nap time during the day and most important their outdoor playing time.
Check it out and follow it regularly. It will helpful to manage their body clock and by this way they stay in good mood.
You should also take care about their nutrition chart, as they are in a growing period. maybe there should be change in their playing or resting time that was not in your routine chart but that all is okay, they are growing continuously.
You should check and monitoring your chart time by time, if you seen to make a change in routine then change it but after that follow it regularly.
Whenever you make changes in your child’s routine do it wisely as it will reflects in your child’s mood and behaviour. Keep in mind that as your child grows their routine change from time to time.
So, keep your eye on your apple of an eye.
Praise them
Toddlers likes attention, they always try to catch an attention from parents and family members.
Whenever you see them to doing some good, always catch that moment for praising.
Giving praise when good behaviour occurs. The chances of repeating of that behaviour are more likely when children are being praised.
For instance, if your child playing with friends very peacefully or sharing toys with others praise them.
Be sure to praise your child when he/she stop crying. Praise them with appropriate gesture and also give rewards to appreciate them.
You will notice after sometime when this type of occasion happen frequently their tantrum appear lesser than ever.
‘No means No’ rule
Sometimes our child makes demand that cannot be fulfilled and when we say ‘No’ they are starting tantrum without stop.
At that moment their anger busted out and behaviour going out of control (Remember that they are not doing this knowingly to make us awkward and embarrassed) After all inevitably we give them whatever they are demanding, and exactly at that time we make a gigantic mistake.
Means now they have learnt that if I starting to cry and scream, my mom or dad will give me whatever I ask for.
Well, I’m not telling you to not be loving to your child, I’m just telling you to think before telling them ‘Yes or ‘no’.
Think, is their demand okay or not. If yes then there is no problem but if your answer is no then it is absolutely no.
If after urging, they make tantrum then avoid it. After two or three time of these kind of ignorance they understand that if my parent says ‘No’ means, it is definitely ‘No’.
Give them alternatives, let them choice
Giving them alternatives and give them freedom to choose really helps in their growth. Giving choices to them are good for their learning skill. It develops their decision power and reflects in their behaviour. They feel free whenever you tell them to choose by themselves. This kind of practice makes child emotionally strong which reduse the amount of tantrum eventually..
The first step toward is give them alternatives and tell them to choose by self.
For instance, if you are going for an outing, you probably should say, hey darling, we are going for the outing what would you like to wear red t-shirt or blue shirt and then let them choose.
Same kind of action you can do when you are going for grocery shopping. You may ask them to buy their favourite cookies and chocolates with some instruction like your budget and health.
It is all upon you how to guide them. They will enjoy your company and aware of their choices.
When you give them choices, they feel that you are not imposing them. Rather than they would like to engage with you and join you happily. Day by day their tantrum will go off.
Talk to them on their level
Whenever they are crying, screaming or not in their good behaviour, stay calm and always talk to them after going to their height.
This gesture gives them felling of equality and sympathy. This kind of gesture improve their emotional stability.
Note: – Toddlers are so young to handle this situation. They need your support and love.
I’ve mentioned all the basic techniques to control their tantrum and all of these are scientifically proven to decrease their tantrum. With all these one should be careful that the tone of voice and your gesture. It all matters because these techniques are affective when you do it with a right tone and an appropriate gesture. And second, child is not a machine that we can command. It may takes time to take control over emotions.