| If you have or have had a toddler, you are likely to | | | | The hardest thing a parent must do is to not give in |
| be quite familiar with kid's tantrums! The "Terrible | | | | to the child's wants in order to stop the tantrum. This |
| Twos" achieved this infamous name from the | | | | is reinforcing bad behavior and will be learned quickly |
| tendency for kids in this age bracket to have | | | | by anyone; children, adults, and even dogs and cats! |
| tantrums. Typical? Yes! Intolerable? Yes! What's a | | | | Do not give them the candy or let them play with |
| parent to do? | | | | the scissors....or whatever. Be firm and hold your |
| We are all looking for ways to handle and tolerate | | | | ground. |
| the kid's tantrums without ourselves having a total | | | | Another good method for controlling the tantrum is |
| breakdown. We're the adults and need to know how | | | | to distract them. Often the tantrum occurs when |
| to handle the inevitable tantrum in the most | | | | you cannot ignore them, such as in the department |
| productive and educational way for your child. He | | | | store or market when they can't have what is within |
| should outgrow these tantrums, so don't despair. | | | | their reach or sight. Take them immediately out of |
| A parent needs to know why the tantrum is | | | | the store or to another department and show them |
| occurring. Often, the simple solution is that your child | | | | something interesting. Look at the big balloons up |
| is tired and hungry. Know when enough of an activity | | | | there or see the man walking his dog, the escalator, |
| is enough, and is tiring the child. End the activity, feed | | | | etc. Kids have short attention spans so this technique |
| your child and put him down for a nap. Time your | | | | can quickly stop the tantrum when it occurs in a |
| errands and activities with the child for when he is | | | | public place. |
| well fed and rested. | | | | Many parents develop various adaptations of the |
| A good action for you to take when your kid has a | | | | above techniques for controlling and dissolving the |
| tantrum is to pretend it isn't happening, or politely | | | | temper tantrum. |
| ignore the child. A child in the midst of a tantrum is | | | | You may want to read more information about your |
| not thinking clearly, if at all. His anger and frustration is | | | | child and temper tantrums. What is the normal |
| controlling his behavior and he's literally out of his | | | | frequency of such behavior and when should these |
| mind. Let the tantrum play itself out without your | | | | tantrums diminish and disappear are questions we all |
| interference. Make sure the child can't kick, bite or | | | | have. Educating yourself on the various behavior |
| hurt himself or others. When the child calms down, | | | | problems and patterns of children is imperative for all |
| you can then talk to him. | | | | parents. Of course, discuss with your physician any |
| A rule for the parent is to stay calm. Often the child's | | | | problems you may be having with your child. Physical |
| horrible behavior excites the parent who also | | | | problems can also cause behavioral problems, so |
| becomes excited and angry. Stay calm and ignore | | | | question any disturbing behavior with a professional. |
| the child as best you can until the child has quieted | | | | With proper education on your part, you'll be enjoying |
| down. Your angry voice and behavior will only excite | | | | the early childhood years more than ever, terrible |
| and upset the child more. | | | | twos and all! |