It's certainly easy to understand why they call them the Terrible 2s. Here are a few ideas on how parents can prevent and deal with temper tantrums from www.childwelfare.gov.
It is often easier to prevent tantrums than to deal with
them once they have begun. Parents may notice some signals that children give as a warning that a tantrum may be brewing. If a parent suspects that a tantrum is coming or if a child gets in the habit of having a tantrum after a particular experience or at a particular time of day, here are some prevention tips to keep in mind:
Distract or redirect your child’s attention to something else.
Use a sense of humor to distract your child. This may help you cope, too.
Give your child control over small things by giving him or her a choice.
Take your child to a quiet place and speak softly to him or her.
Encourage your child to express emotions and feelings with words.
Stick to a daily routine that gives your child enough rest and enough activity. (Sounds like you've already tried this one.)
Reward your child when he or she requests something without having a tantrum.
How can parents deal with tantrums, especially public temper tantrums? Parents can be caught off guard when a child throws a tantrum in public. It can be embarrassing, and parents may be tempted to give in to the child just to stop the tantrum. But giving in just teaches the
child that “tantrums work.” Instead, try some of the following tips to deal with tantrums that happen in the home or in public:
Remain calm. Don’t lose control because your child has lost control. Instead, try to model behavior that is calm and controlled.
Hugging or holding your child until the tantrum subsides may help a younger child through a tantrum.
Put the child in “time out” or in a quiet place (even strapped in to a stroller) where he or she can calm down. Time out should be one minute for each year of the child’s age.
Older children who throw tantrums may be seeking attention. Try ignoring them until the tantrum is over.
Does that answer help? Do other parents have tips on how to curb tantrums?
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It's certainly easy to understand why they call them the Terrible 2s. Here are a few ideas on how parents can prevent and deal with temper tantrums from www.childwelfare.gov.
It is often easier to prevent tantrums than to deal with
them once they have begun. Parents may notice some signals that children give as a warning that a tantrum may be brewing. If a parent suspects that a tantrum is coming or if a child gets in the habit of having a tantrum after a particular experience or at a particular time of day, here are some prevention tips to keep in mind:
Distract or redirect your child’s attention to something else.
Use a sense of humor to distract your child. This may help you cope, too.
Give your child control over small things by giving him or her a choice.
Take your child to a quiet place and speak softly to him or her.
Encourage your child to express emotions and feelings with words.
Stick to a daily routine that gives your child enough rest and enough activity. (Sounds like you've already tried this one.)
Reward your child when he or she requests something without having a tantrum.
How can parents deal with tantrums, especially public temper tantrums? Parents can be caught off guard when a child throws a tantrum in public. It can be embarrassing, and parents may be tempted to give in to the child just to stop the tantrum. But giving in just teaches the
child that “tantrums work.” Instead, try some of the following tips to deal with tantrums that happen in the home or in public:
Remain calm. Don’t lose control because your child has lost control. Instead, try to model behavior that is calm and controlled.
Hugging or holding your child until the tantrum subsides may help a younger child through a tantrum.
Put the child in “time out” or in a quiet place (even strapped in to a stroller) where he or she can calm down. Time out should be one minute for each year of the child’s age.
Older children who throw tantrums may be seeking attention. Try ignoring them until the tantrum is over.
Does that answer help? Do other parents have tips on how to curb tantrums?
June 18, 2008 - 9:49amThis Comment
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