How to Prevent and Deal with Toddler Tantrums

Is it terrible twos or terrible threes? Either way toddler tantrums are ear-splitting or headache inducing for any parent who has lost all patience or is it control of their child? It’s not so simple being a toddler. Sometimes they want to be the baby and sometimes they seek and demand for independence. Life as a toddler is tough because they don’t know how to express themselves properly.

7 helpful Tips to Help Deal with Toddler Tantrums

First and foremost, you’re the parent and you have control of the situation. If you don’t do anything, it can easily spiral out of control and that could mean your child could hurt themselves or someone else.

1. You know your toddler better than anyone else and you know how much they can handle during the day. When you know their limits, avoid doing things that could cause a tantrum. Hunger, crankiness, tiredness, fussiness, frustration are all triggers that lead to tantrums, Identify them and solve them before they get out of hand.

2. Have an eating routine and try to keep your child on an eating schedule. If they miss a meal, don’t compensate it with unhealthy high sugar content snacks to tie them over. Once the sugar wears off, crankiness kicks in.

3. Not all kids need a nap. Most still do even if it’s 30 minutes, but never wake up a sleeping toddler and if you ever do, it better be worth it because waking up a toddler before they are ready to wake on their own is a disaster waiting to happen. You’ll have a fight on your hands and a very unhappy toddler.

4. Have quiet time with your toddler. An overtired, too excited or a lack of attention toddler can all lead to tantrums. Read a book, listen to audio stories, play with an educational toy or coloring is still fun, yet are calming playtime activities.

5. When your toddler is in full tantrum mode, try not to get frustrated yourself. You’re not helping the situation and most likely, your child isn’t listening to you anyways. Have a calming voice and keep your emotions in check. It’s not easy to do, but if you take a step back or let your spouse or another family member intervene that may help. If you’re out in public, taking a step back is not ideal. Pick up your child, leave, and find a quiet place which probably would be your car.

6. Listen to what your child is saying and be comforting and understanding. It’s tough for toddlers to express how they feel and having a tantrum is way for them to vent. Depending on the situation and why he/she is having a tantrum also be firm with your decision. Don’t be wishy-washy in your yes or no answer as this gives mixed signals that are hard for them to decipher.

7. You don’t always have to make decisions for your child. You can help them gain independence by allowing them to choose between two items such as apple juice or grape juice, banana or animal crackers.

NEVER give into a tantrum. What is rewarded will be repeated. Also, the important thing for your toddler to know is that no matter what, tantrums or not, you love them unconditionally and give them plenty of hugs and kisses. Tantrums are simply a young child’s inability to deal with their feelings properly. It is not something that is to be “punished”. They need training. Also, when they do exhibit self control, they must be met with reassure and praise.

Train up a child in the way he should go [and in keeping with his individual gift or bent], and when he is old he will not depart from it. – Proverbs 22:6 (amp)

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