How To Deal With Your Toddler’s Temper Tantrums

This article is about how parents must learn to deal with toddler’s temper tantrums rather than encouraging them by giving in to their demands. Listed are the ways that will help you deal with the toddler’s tantrums over a period of time.

Toddlers and tantrums are synonyms for each other. Where there are toddlers, there are tantrums. Parents are usually frustrated with the tantrums their toddlers throw and it can become embarrassing when they happen in public. Usually when toddlers throw a fit of rage, parents end up giving in to their demands, only to make the quiet. But often this tactic can lead to toddlers thinking that their tantrums will get them anything and everything they desire. So parents must learn how to deal with toddler’s temper tantrums rather than encouraging them by giving in to their demands. Following are the ways that will help you deal with the toddler’s tantrums over a period of time.

1. Use distractions: When your toddler throws a temper tantrum, you can throw in a distraction. Be it toys or treats or even a song they like might work the magic. The key is to divert your child’s mind. Distraction like having your child have another toy instead of what they are demanding can also work like a charm. This tactic usually helps best when their tantrums happen in public.
2. Do not try to reason out: The onset of tantrums comes with flooded emotions. The emotional brain of your toddler has taken control and they can no longer listen to whatever you try to tell them. When their meltdown is in a full swing, trying to reason them is a waste of time. You may end up upsetting them even more.
3.  Restore emotional balance: Parents can help restore the emotional balance in the child’s body by holding or hugging them. Hugging or holding releases oxytocin in their body, which is a feel good hormone. This will help them calm down. Make sure you are calm before trying to calm them down by hugging.
4. Do not give in: When your toddler is throwing tantrums, you need to be calm. But make sure you do not give into their demands. By getting angry at them, you will end up making them even more angry. Stay calm, which will teach your child how to handle the situation. Being negative with your child will only lead to more negativity, causing them to reach more wildly.
5. Do not punish: Sometimes a tantrum may start as means to get something the toddler wants. But if left undealt with, it can escalate into a strong hormonal storm which a young child is not equipped to cope with by themselves. When that happens, it becomes a genuine case of uncontrollable anguish and pain. Punishing your child during such times will only add onto their pain. So keep punishment as the last resort.
6. Teach vocabularies: When your child has finally settled down, you can teach your child how to use words for the things they want instead of throwing temper tantrums. Let them know that it will be easier for you to hear them out when they talk about the things they want instead of throwing a tantrum.
7. Control the tantrum before it happens: The best thing you can do is prevent the tantrum from happening. As prevention is better than cure, you need to identify the causes and solve them before they enable your child to throw a tantrum. Factors like hunger, lack of sleep and tiredness can cause temper tantrums in children. So make sure these factors are negated before you step out with your little one.