Are you a Toddler Parent? Do you feel that your toddler keeps throwing tantrums for no reason at all?
Then keep reading to know the truth!
The truth is that usually, toddlers do not have control over their tantrums. Toddler Tantrums are a result of your toddler being over-stimulated or unable to express his emotions or inability to achieve a task independently or lack of attention.
It could be any of these or all of these.
As parents, it’s crucial to recognize that toddler tantrums are not a reflection of our parenting skills but rather an integral part of their developmental journey. Tantrums serve as a learning mechanism for toddlers to grapple with negative emotions. While we can’t always prevent or control tantrums, implementing a few simple strategies can help reduce their frequency.
In this Post, You will Find
8 Simple steps to reduce Toddler Tantrums
1. Giving Choice
Empower your toddler by offering choices in various aspects of their daily life, such as food, clothes, activities, and screen time. Providing them with a sense of control can significantly decrease tantrum occurrences.. Give him a choice in food, clothes, activities, screen time.
2. Independence to Explore
Create a safe environment that allows your toddler the independence to explore and play freely. Instead of hovering over them, fostering a space where they can discover without constant restrictions can contribute to a happier and less frustrated toddler. Mess takes only 5 minutes to clean than a crying toddler for hours.
3. Explaining the consequences
Rather than a simple “No,” explain the consequences of their actions. This not only helps them understand boundaries but also aids in the development of responsible decision-making skills. #safeforfuture
4. Making things predictable
Children thrive on routine and predictability. Giving your toddler a heads up about upcoming changes or transitions can ease anxiety and reduce tantrum triggers. Providing reminders, such as countdowns or announcements, helps prepare them for what’s next. Instead of abruptly switching off the TV or telling him to go home from playground or taking him to his doctor; we give him a reminder – 10 min to switching off the TV, 5 min to go home, tomorrow is school day etc.
5. Simple Rules
Establishing straightforward rules can set clear expectations for your toddler. For instance, no screen time during meals, limiting the number of toys taken outside, or associating sweets with specific meal times can help minimize meltdowns.
6. Being Present
Kids have short attention span. They want your attention momentarily before they go back to what they were doing. Keeping away the phone, looking him in the eye while he talk or playing with him for 5 minutes or so gives him confidence that he is not lonely. Thus, less possibilty of crying and throwing things.
7. Helping to understand their emotions
Encourage emotional intelligence by using words to label feelings, both yours and your toddler’s. This helps them articulate their emotions, fostering a sense of control over their reactions. Use words to label your as well as your kid’s feelings like ‘happy’, ‘sad’, ‘angry’, ‘hungry’ , ‘sleepy’ etc.
8. Identify tantrum triggers
Knowing what may throw them into a fit helps to foresee and plan the situation. Keep a check on tiredness, hunger, sleep or overstimulation. You might be able to plan for these situations and avoid the triggers – for example, by going shopping after your child has had a nap or something to eat.
Many a times we have been told that our kid is so calm and very sorted.
It is not that our toddler doesn’t throw tantrums. The other day, he cried for 5 minute or so because he wanted to break the glass fruit bowl and then on realizing that he will not be able to eat papaya when the bowl breaks.
While no parenting strategy can completely eliminate tantrums, it’s essential to remember that occasional outbursts are a normal part of toddlerhood. Our reactions and the environment we provide play a pivotal role in shaping their responses. It’s not about preventing tantrums but creating a safe, loving space where toddlers feel secure and understood.
The key lies in how we respond to these moments and the environment we cultivate for our children. By implementing these simple steps, we can navigate toddler tantrums with patience and understanding, fostering a positive and supportive atmosphere for our little ones to grow and thrive.
What should I do as a Parent during a Tantrum?
Ideally, the best way to respond to a tantrum is to stay calm. If we respond by yelling or hitting, our child might imitate our behaviour.
Shouting or being angry at them is also likely to make things worse.
Instead, try and practice these things
- Remember that our child is not doing it on purpose or trying to upset us. Children don’t have tantrums deliberately.
- Accept that we can’t control our child’s emotions or behaviour directly. We can only keep guide their behaviour so tantrums are less likely to happen in the future. We need to keep them safe during these situations.
- Remind ourselves that our job is to help them navigate through their negative emotions and help them to keep calm in such situations thus, we need to be calm too.
- Accept that change takes time and the tantrums won’t go away overnight. Our child has a lot of growing up to do before tantrums are gone forever. Developing and practising self-regulation skills is a life-long task.
- And last but very important that we need to identify our triggers and keep them in check as our anger and frustration will make things more complicated.
To be honest, these things are easier said than done but trust me it is not impossible.
There are days when we lose our calm during his tantrum but practising above things has help us handle things differently and positively.
It takes a lot of effort EVERYDAY to achieve that.
Coping with toddler’s tantrums can be difficult.
However, it helps to remember that they are challenging for our child, too.
Our toddler is just working through his emotions and doesn’t know what else to do to show he is upset.
Many a times, nothing works, so we either use distraction technique or simply give in.
We all are sailing in the same boat.. So give a pat on your back, because you are doing great Momma!
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Disclaimer: The views expressed in the article are solely based on author’s experience. Please do not consider it as professional advice.
