Overcoming Temper Tantrums Successfully

Handling Tantrums the Mature Way

Tantrums are an inevitable part of growing up process in kids and therefore a predictable part of parenting. It is their way of showing the frustration and anger they feel when they cannot do what they want to or need to do. You have to deal with these episodes effectively so that they are resolved in a proper and safe manner. The main objective in overcoming tantrums is helping the child understand anger and adapt to it.  There are plenty of people happy to give parenting advice on handling temper tantrums but when you are in the situation it is very different.

Tiding over the Tantrums

When you are faced a child having a tantrum, you have to remember to keep calm. You need to

• Avoid punishing the child
• Avoid rewarding them
• Try to stay calm and collected
• Protect the child from possible injury
• Isolate them
• Ignore the censure of the people around and stay clear minded.

Dealing with Tantrums at Home

In case of a tantrum in the home, you have to isolate the child and keep them in a safe area.  Close off the area and return to the area only when the child calms down.  If you consider it unsafe to leave the child alone, stay with them, but do not talk or look at them.  Once the child calms down, you can talk with them about the way they had behaved.

Tantrums in Public

Public tantrums are the most embarrassing and so handling tantrums in public is definitely the hardest part of difficult parenting. You need to carry the child out of the area to some private place. You can take them to the car and buckle them to the car seat and wait till it subsides. In situations like in a train or a plane, you have to manage it then and there. Ignoring the tantrum and keeping calm is the best thing you can do in such circumstances, but when the child goes to the extreme of it, you certainly need to gear up for some immediate actions.

Dealing with Episodes

Tantrums are hard to deal with, but when they occur, you need to know how to control the situation and not let it go out of hand.

• Try having a relaxing time daily like going to the park, playing in the garden or reading a story.
• Avoid saying ‘no’ straightway. This will trigger a more intense outburst; instead use words like later or after to tone down your refusal.
• Convey to the child that you understand their anger or frustration. This will make the child realise that you respect their feelings and they will learn gradually to express their anger in words, instead of resorting to tantrums.
• New change in their daily routine like potty training or going to a nursery may be the triggering factor. Ascertain this before you start dealing with it.
• Punishment or shouting will never lessen the intensity, but can make it worse.

Preventing Tantrums

There are ways in which you can avoid the tantrum from happening. Here are some tips:

1. Keep dangerous and breakable things out of reach and make your home toddler-proof.
2. Always keep an eye on the behavior of the kid, so that you can act in time to defuse the situation before it worsens.
3. Establish clear routines like regular bath time, lunch, dinner and bedtimes.
4. Children need to be involved in lots of activities to exhaust their high energetic levels. Keep them active by playing with them inside the house or the playground.

You need to give them options regarding how they should spend their time, so that they do not rebel. Tantrums usually subside once the child grows up and knows how to communicate and understand better.