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Imagine you’re at the supermarket and your toddler has eyed a toy that you do not intend on purchasing. All of a sudden, you find yourself amidst a gust of temper tantrum.
How do you respond to this? What to do with these toddler temper tantrums and when to worry about them? Read on parenthoodbliss and find out everything you need to know about how to deal with toddler temper tantrums.
What Do Toddler Temper Tantrums Mean?
A tantrum is a toddler’s display of displeasure with his or her boundaries or rage at not being able to get his or her way. Temper tantrums can range from whining and sobbing to yelling, kicking, striking, and holding one’s breath. They are equally common in boys and girls and usually occur between the ages of one and three.
Tantrums are prevalent during the age of two when communication skills are developing. Because toddlers are unable to express what they really want, think, or require, a frustrating encounter may result in a tantrum. Tantrums, though, typically tend to decline as language skills increase.
What Causes Toddler Temper Tantrums?
Perhaps your youngster is having difficulty understanding something or completing a task. Or maybe your child lacks the words to describe his or her emotions. Frustration may cause an outburst in a temper tantrum.
Temper outbursts can be caused by a variety of factors, including:
- Appetite
- Attention seeking
- Fatigue or growing pains
- Frustration
- Nagging about wanting treats or toys or staying in the park for longer
- Putting off their tasks like arranging their toys after play
The conflict that toddlers experience is a major source of temper tantrums. They want to be independent, but they also want their parents’ attention. And they haven’t learned how to cope with emotional reactions or setbacks. They frequently lack the language ability to express their emotions, so they lash out instead.
How To Handle Toddler Temper Tantrums?
There is no infallible method for preventing tantrums, but there are many things you can do to foster positive conduct in even the youngest children. Consider these tips on how to handle toddler temper tantrums if not totally stop these temper tantrums:
● Child’s Boundaries
If you know your child is fatigued, now is not the time to go grocery shopping or run one more errand.
● Distraction
Kids have a short attention span. So, one way to keep your toddler’s temper tantrums is to take advantage of their short attention span. Begin a new activity to replace the one that is annoying or restricted. Alternatively, simply alter the environment by taking them outside, indoors, or to a different room.
● Learning New Skills
Praise them to make them feel good about themselves. Also, begin with something simple before progressing to more difficult tasks.
● Positive Attention
Make it a habit to catch your youngster doing something good. Praise and attention should be given to your child for good behavior.
● Power Over Small Things
Provide small options, such as “Would you like to have berries or peaches?” or “Would you like to color or play with Lego?” This way, you’re not giving them orders or commands, but giving them options to pick and choose.
What To Do With A Toddler When They’re Throwing A Temper Tantrum?
When dealing with a toddler’s temper tantrum, keep your composure. Don’t add to the problem by expressing your dissatisfaction or fury. Assure yourself that your role is to teach your youngster to relax. As a result, you must maintain your cool as well.
Tantrums should be treated differently depending on the cause of your child’s distress. You may need to provide consolation at times. It’s time for a sleep or a snack if your child is hungry and tired. In other instances, it is preferable to dismiss a tantrum or divert your child’s attention with a specific trend.
If a tantrum is being thrown to seek the attention of parents, one of the most effective strategies to minimize this conduct is to overlook it.
What To Do After Dealing With Toddler Temper Tantrums?
If your little one has calmed down after a tantrum, it doesn’t just end there. Here are a few things you can do to support your child now they are calm.
- Praise your youngster for regaining control by saying something like, “I like how you’re able to tell me how you’re feeling.”
- You can also go for a hug and reassure them that they are loved no matter what.
- Check to see if your youngster is receiving adequate sleep. Children who do not get enough sleep may become hyperactive, disagreeable, and exhibit excessive behavior. Tantrums can be significantly reduced by getting proper sleep.
When To Worry About Toddler Temper Tantrums & Call A Doctor?
If a tantrum becomes out of hand, remove your child from the scene and impose breaks:
1. Change the setting of the environment
Place your youngster in an uninteresting location, such as a chair in the living room or on the floor in the hallway. Allow your child some time to settle down. Consider giving your youngster one minute of timeout for every year of his or her age.
2. Refocus
Return your child to the prescribed timeout location if he or she begins to wonder about it before the timeout is over. While your child is in timeout, do not respond to whatever he or she says.
3. Call Off Break
When your child has calmed down, briefly explain why the timeout was necessary and why the behavior was improper. Then resume your regular activities.
However, don’t overuse timeouts or they won’t work.
4. Ask For Professional Help
Tantrums should become less frequent as your child learns self-control. By the age of three and a half, most youngsters exhibit fewer tantrums. If your kid is causing any harm to himself or herself or someone else, holding his or her breath to the point of fainting during tantrums, or has escalating tantrums after the age of four, discuss your concerns with your child’s doctor.
If you notice any of the following behaviors, call your pediatrician immediately:
- When you respond to your toddler’s temper tantrums, you experience anger or feel out of control
- You continue to give in easily
- Temper tantrums create a lot of negative feelings between you and your toddler
- You’re confused about what you’re doing or what your little one is doing
- Tantrums become more frequent, intense, or persist for a longer period of time
- Your toddler frequently ends up injuring themselves or others
- Your youngster appears to be quite disagreeable, argues frequently, and rarely cooperates with you
Toddler Temper Tantrums Final Words:
When things don’t go as planned and your toddler’s temper tantrum occurs, be kind with yourself. Raising children is a large and vital responsibility that all parents must learn as they go.
Children develop self-control as they get older. They learn to work together, communicate, and deal with frustration. But always remember that you’re doing your best, but you don’t have control over everything.
