[woobox offer=’egqja8′ style=’popup’ trigger=’enter’ expire=’1′]
Temper tantrums are a normal part of early childhood development. They are your child’s way of dealing with frustration and disappointment and to begin to develop some independence. Between the ages of 1 to 4 children haven’t developed good coping skills yet and tend to just lose it. Every tantrum stems from one thing – not getting what they want. Between the ages of 1 and 2 tantrums often stem from trying to communicate a need but they don’t have the language skills to do it. When you don’t respond to their need or what they are “saying” they throw a fit. For older toddlers, between 3 or 4, tantrums are more of a power struggle.
Tantrums can have different causes and need different reactions. If your child is using tantrums as a tool to get their own way, use verbal clues and body language that states you don’t do tantrums. If you ignore his fit or walk away, this will teach him tantrums are not acceptable.
If your child is having tantrums due to frustration, you need to employ empathy. Don’t ignore frustration tantrums, become a support resource. Offer a helping hand if he can’t complete a task, encourage him to use his words or body language to communicate his feelings.
If tantrums are a regular occurrence for your toddler, learn how to spot the triggers. What is happening before, during and after the tantrums? Is your child bored, tired, sick, hungry or overstimulated? Learn to recognize the triggers and plan ahead to avoid them. Carry snacks and offer food if you notice a shift in behavior that comes with being “hangry.”
Don’t try to reason with your child when they are in the midst of a full-blown tantrum. Their brains will not be able to respond to reason, let them work through the emotions and calm down before you try to reason with them.
Creating a diversion can help ward off a tantrum. Children have very short attention spans, so by diverting their attention from what was about to cause a tantrum, you can avoid it. Using your enthusiasm about the diversion can help sell it to your child.
If you haven’t been able to prevent the tantrum from happening, stay calm. This can be easier said than done, but even if you are not calm – just pretend. Keep your voice cool and level and as your child’s volume goes up, bring yours down.
Reward your child’s good behavior. When they have successfully managed their frustration and disappointment give them plenty of praise. This will encourage the behavior you want to see.
Accept that you cannot directly control your child’s emotions. Their temper tantrum is not a testament to your parenting skills, how you react to that tantrum is.
When all the parenting tricks haven’t worked and you need additional help with your child’s behavior, Native Remedies has a natural solution – Tula Tantrum Tamer™. This homeopathic medicine reduces restlessness and tantrums in children with no risks of side effects or addiction. It has been formulated specifically for children by our clinical psychologist to temporarily reduce the frequency and strength of children’s tantrums, calm an unreasonable attitude and help children to become more amenable to compromise and discipline.
If your child’s temper tantrums are triggered by separation problems, Native Remedies has developed K-OK Kiddie Calmer™. A homeopathic medicine specially formulated to help temporarily relieve common symptoms of childhood separation anxiety including nervousness, temper tantrums, and apprehension in kids. With no risk of side effects or addiction, K-OK Kiddie Calmer™ offers an effective and safe choice for promoting feelings of relaxation and a sense of security in children.
While temper tantrums in children are stressful for all involved, they are a normal part of childhood development and your child will out-grow them.
