Are you dealing with your kids’ tantrums? You’re not alone. As a parent of a 2-year-old girl, I also find it challenging to deal with her tantrums. When she doesn’t get what she wants, she cries, screams, and flails around until she gets tired.
First, let me assure you that you’re not alone. This kind of thing happens all the time. And it’s not your fault! Tantrums are a normal part of child growth and should not be taken as an indication of poor parenting.
Nothing could be more wrong with the parenting belief that tending to children with tantrums is due to bad parenting. It is important to remember that it is entirely normal for children to experience tantrums at inappropriate times, even with the best of parents. It’s crucial, though, that you, as parents to understand the nature of your children’s tantrums and the reasons behind them so that you can respond appropriately.
What are tantrums?
A child’s tantrum is an outward manifestation of frustration with the limitations or rage at being denied their desired outcome. Maybe your kid is struggling to understand a concept or finish a task. Probably, your kid doesn’t know how to put their sentiments into words. A temper tantrum may result from an outburst brought on by frustration.
Your child is more likely to have a tantrum if he or she is overtired, starving, sick, or in the midst of a transition.
What causes temper tantrums?
We might think this must be unusual for a child to happen. Kids throw tantrums for various reasons. It may be because they are tired, hungry, sleepy, or even because they want your attention and you are ignoring them. That is why parents need to show more patience and love when dealing with their kids having tantrums.
Kids between the ages of 1 and 3 tend to have temper tantrums frequently.
This is due to the fact that young children are still in the early stages of social, emotional, and language development. They may become agitated because they cannot express themselves verbally, especially when they want to care for themselves. They are also becoming aware of their actions impact on those around them. Then, tantrums are one way young children deal with their emotions, seek to understand and control their circumstances and develop coping mechanisms.
What to Do?
Here are four simple ways to deal with tantrums:
Stay Calm
The first thing to do is be calm and understand your child’s emotions. A tantrum is a sudden outburst of emotions due to hunger, feeling sleepy, or a lack of attention from you.
When your child is having a tantrum, your first instinct may be to yell at her or punish her for misbehaving. But disciplining her when she’s out of control will probably worsen things. She doesn’t have the ability at that moment to understand what you’re saying or learn from her mistakes. You’ll both end up feeling frustrated and angry.
The best way to deal with a tantrum is to stay calm and avoid getting upset. The calmer you are, the easier it will be for your child to calm down.
Don't Give In To Their Demands
Secondly, it is unnecessary to buy them gifts and give in to their demands. If you do so, they will repeat their tantrums the next time they want something. Instead, try distracting them with toys or stories. Ultimately, let them know that throwing a tantrum won’t work and that you won’t give in easily.
Determine What Set Your Child Off
Next, try to determine what set your child off. Was it something you said or did? Was it something someone else said or did? Was it some action of his or hers that did not turn out as expected?
Once you have determined the cause, try to diffuse the situation with humor. Once your child has calmed down, take them aside and talk about what happened and why it is inappropriate behavior for that particular situation.
The key here is always to acknowledge your kid’s feelings, no matter how trivial they seem to you. When we don’t validate our kid’s feelings, we invalidate them as individuals. Psychologists say that feeling validated is more important than feeling supported when managing emotions.
Ignore It
The best way to deal with tantrums is to ignore them as much as possible while ensuring they’re safe and distracted from whatever they’re upset about. It’s not easy; it takes practice. But you’ll find that ignoring tantrums is by far the most effective approach, and each time you use it successfully, your child will have fewer tantrums in the future.
Bottomline
Tantrums are a surefire way to ruin your day. You’re bristling, body and mind, as you try to manage the discomfort of a screaming toddler. Don’t worry. Tantrums will happen; that’s just part of being a parent. However, using the tips mentioned above, you can do your best to control them and prevent them from occurring again in future situations.
It is essential to be reminded that our children are still very young and have a long way to go before they fully understand and comply with punishment. As parents, we should know the importance of patience in the early stages of childrearing. We must practice it to guarantee that our children grow up in a safe, nurturing home.