Tag Archive | "toddler tantrums"

How To Prevent Toddler Tantrums


A toddler in the midst of a fit might be too hard to control. But even if it is impossible to stop your toddler from ever having a tantrum, there are many things you can do to prevent them. Here are some parent-tested tips on how to prevent toddler tantrums.

Identify The Triggers

What sets off your toddler to have a meltdown? The first step on how to prevent toddler tantrums is to figure out what sets off the behaviour so you can stop it before your toddler dissolves into a full-blown tantrum. For instance, avoid bringing your little one with you when you shop if you know he will just beg and whine for toys and treats. Choose restaurants with a quick service. Make sure your toddler is well-fed and well-rested before going to grandma’s house.

Give Your Toddler Choices

Giving your little one freedom to make his own choices gives him a sense of control which children constantly crave for. This is a very effective technique to prevent toddler tantrums. Substitute direct commands. Instead of saying “Put on your pajamas right now.” (which often sets off a battle), say, “Do you want to brush your teeth or put on your pajamas first?” or “Would you like to wear your blue pajamas or your white pajamas?”. Do not forget to compliment your toddler for his choice.

Encourage Your Toddler To Use Words

Most often, tantrums occur because a young child is unable to express his thoughts and feelings which make a toddler feel helpless. Teach your little one to say or sign words such as “hungry”, “sleepy”, “hurt”, “I want.” and “more”. The easier your toddler can communicate with you, the lesser the chances you are to struggle with tantrums.

Establish A Daily Routine

Toddlers thrive when there is consistency. Thus, it is very essential that you create a daily routine, including mealtimes, naptime, bedtime as well as everyday activities. See to it that you stick to the routine as much as possible. Having a routine helps your toddler know what to expect, giving him a feeling of security which in turn minimizes toddler tantrums.

Keep Your Toddler Busy

Plan active and quiet times for your little one. If you notice your toddler has been playing outdoors or around the house for quite some time, invite your toddler to sit quietly and read a story or finish a puzzle together. If you think your toddler has been cooped up in the house for hours, play active games, ask him to help you with household chores or take a walk around the neighbourhood to get some sun and fresh air.

Give Warnings

If there is any change of plans or activity, make sure you notify your toddler beforehand. For instance, before you pack up the toys or leave the playground, give your little one a 3- to 5-minute warning. Say something like, “We are about to leave in 5 minutes. It is almost time to say goodbye.”, “We will be cleaning up your toys in a while. After we pack them up, let us head to the kitchen and have a snack.”.

Provide Distractions

If you feel your toddler is about to have an outburst, try to distract your toddler. Play a new game. Go to the next room. Sing a song. Talk about anything under the sun. Be silly and make funny faces. It also helps to teach your toddler calming exercises such as counting to ten, taking a deep breath, going for a walk or writing.

Praise Good Behaviour

One way how to prevent toddler tantrums is to give children credit for their good behaviour. Give your toddler a big hug, kiss or a pat on the back for behaving well. Say “I am so happy you behaved in the restaurant.” or “Thank you for following mommy’s instructions.”.

Be A Good Example

Most importantly, there is no better technique how to prevent toddler tantrums by setting a good example for your toddler. If you shout when you are angry or frustrated, then expect your toddler to act the same way when he gets upset. Stay calm and be mature when dealing with difficult situations. Your toddler will see this and will most likely emulate the behaviour.

Toddler tantrums are normal. After all, it is a toddler’s way of expressing and experimenting with feelings. But, these preventive measures are very important in helping a toddler learn how to control emotions and display good behaviour.

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How To Discipline A Screaming Child


Disciplining a toddler is already a tough job for parents. But what if you have a screamer? What do you have to do to correct the behaviour? Here are some tips on how you can discipline a screaming child.

Stay Calm

The first thing you should do is to remain calm. Do not react to screaming with yelling of your own. You are your toddler’s role model, so if he sees you respond to anger with anger, he will only learn that there is nothing wrong with screaming. Keep your composure when dealing with your screaming child. Take deep breaths, count to ten and hold back your frustration.

Acknowledge Your Toddler’s Feelings

Determine the root of the misbehaviour. It may look like mischief, but your toddler’s high-pitched voice is his way of exploring the power of his voice and experimenting with what he can do with it. Screaming is another way for toddlers to communicate or to be heard. Some toddlers shout each time they want their parents’ attention while others scream when they want something they cannot have.

Ignore It

When your little one begins shrieking up a storm, leave him alone for a few minutes, turn on some music and sing a song or ask him to sing with you. Ignoring the screaming will make your toddler stop his tantrums because he knows you will not give him attention if he continues the bad behaviour.

Address The Issue

Once your little one has calmed down, talk to your toddler in a calm and firm manner. Explain to him that screaming is unacceptable and is against the rules. You can say “I know you are upset because you want another scoop of ice cream, but yelling is not good. You should ask nicely.”

Provide Distractions

Another way to control your toddler’s screaming is to keep him busy. Offer a new activity or toy. If you are in a restaurant and your toddler starts yelling, step outside for a few minutes. Play fun games such as “I Spy” while running errands with your toddler. Ask him to help you pick out fruits and vegetables while at the supermarket. Better yet, make up a song about what you are doing to make it more entertaining for your little one.

Give A Consequence

No, you do not have to be violent to make your toddler stop screaming. Whenever your toddler is yelling, give an effective punishment. Put him in a time-out. Leave him in a safe corner and have him sit there for a short time or until he is calm enough. Or, you may also withhold privileges (TV, video games, desserts or extra minutes of playtime).

Provide Positive Reinforcement

When your toddler behaves appropriately, make sure you give him praise. Hug him and say, “You did good honey. I am very happy you talked nicely even if you were angry.”. Offer him a small but sweet reward such as cooking his favorite food for dinner, a sticker or a small toy. This will increase his motivation to continue the good behaviour.

Never lose hope. Know that this phase is only temporary. Your toddler will outgrow this annoying behaviour in time and of course, with your help.

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Taming Toddler Tantrums – Teaching Children To Self-soothe


One very important skill parents should teach their children is how to self-soothe. Having this skill helps toddlers grow into independent individuals. Here are some self-soothing techniques that can help tame toddler tantrums.

Monitor Emotions

In order for you to effectively teach your toddler how to self-soothe, first, you have to be mindful of his emotions. Does he whine during bedtime? Fight with his sibling? Slam the door? Talk back? Think about the behaviour you have seen or heard your toddler express before the full-blown meltdown. This will make it easier for you to understand that your little one is experiencing a strong emotion he cannot articulate.

Listen

No matter how busy you are, always take the time to listen to your toddler. Children often seek for empathy in their parents and showing compassion can help your little one manage his emotions better so he can in turn, think of ways to calm himself.

Get Moving

Being active helps the body generate chemicals that can calm and soothe. The next time your toddler grits his teeth or clenches his fist, ask him to take a break and encourage your toddler to perform physical activities such as running, dancing, riding a biking, walking or playing tag or basketball. Afterwards, talk about how much better his body and mood feels.

Teach Breathing Exercises

Deep breathing is a very effective way to calm frazzled nerves. Teach your toddler to take 10 slow, deep breaths. Let him perform this exercise before he reacts or every time he is having an outburst. This soothing technique gives your little one time to organize his thoughts.

Provide Distractions

Another way you can teach your toddler to self-soothe is by giving him a distraction. For instance, if your toddler is about to scream because he cannot get what he wants, bring him to a safe corner in your home where he can do different activities such as painting, stacking blocks, coloring books, reading a book or completing a jigsaw puzzle. Redirecting his negative emotions not only helps calm him down but it will also give him the opportunity to do something productive.

Help Your Toddler Express His Feelings

Tantrums are often caused by a toddler’s inability to express what he feels due to his limited vocabulary. You can help your toddler communicate his emotions by teaching him to sing a song, write his thoughts down or encourage him to ask for a hug or a back rub each time he feels uneasy. Learning to put into words one’s feelings is an effective way to self-soothe. Once he is able to do this, you will be amazed at how seldom your little one throws fits.

Affirm

Teach your toddler to think about his good traits whenever he feels bad. Teaching your child to think positive will give him comfort when the going gets tough. Having an optimistic mind is the most powerful tool to calm one’s self.

Toddler tantrums are unavoidable. But, you can make your toddler and your family’s life easier by teaching your toddler how to calm himself.

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Getting Your Toddler To Stop Whining


Having a whiny toddler can be a nightmare. Thus, immediate action must be taken to correct this misbehaviour as early as possible. Follow these tips to help your toddler stop whining.

Stay Patient

It may be difficult to keep your composure when your toddler is whining unceasingly. But, if you react with anger or annoyance, you are only increasing your toddler’s bad behaviour. Count to ten, take a few deep breaths to relax yourself before you start talking to your toddler.

Identify The Triggers

What triggers whining? Generally, children whine when they are bored, weary or hungry. Give him plenty of activities that will keep him busy during the day. If your little one complains because he is tired, let him have a mid-morning nap and an afternoon nap. Offer light snacks a few hours before dinnertime. Knowing what sets off the behaviour will help you quickly soothe your toddler before his whining goes into overdrive.

Teach Your Toddler How To Ask

Too often, toddlers complain because they are still incapable of using the right words to express themselves. Teach your child how to ask courteously before he starts whining or teach him a hand signal or a secret word he can show or say to you each time he needs something. This will make him realize that there is a different way to ask aside from whining.

Be A Copycat

One effective technique to stop a toddler from whining is by imitating the action. Show your toddler what he looks like, what he sounds like each time he complains. Most likely, your toddler will find it strange and may tell you to stop. This will help him realize that his behaviour is not acceptable and will make him think twice about doing it again.

Talk To Your Toddler

Sometimes, toddlers have no idea they are whining. To make them aware of their misbehaviour, they need to be informed. Express your feelings. Talk to your toddler in a calm yet firm voice that you know he is hungry, but he should not whine. Tell your toddler that if he is hungry, all he has to do is to tell you and you will give him something to eat.

Ignore The Whining

When your toddler starts to whine, do your best not to acknowledge it no matter how irritating it may get. Tell your toddler you cannot hear him and that you will only listen to him if he quits whining and when he can speak to you in a polite manner. Once he realizes you are not affected by his whining, he will eventually stop.

Give Praise

Every time your toddler asks for something nicely, express your gratitude. Praise him for a job well done. Give him a slice of his favorite chocolate cake or allow him to drink soda during dinner. This is a good way to reinforce the positive behaviour. The more he knows you are pleased with him, the more motivated he will be to continue the behaviour. Remember, children like knowing that they have done well.

Stopping your toddler from whining does not just happen in a flash. It is a process, one that needs your continuous guidance, support and determination.

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Toddler Haircut - How to Stop The Hysterics


A toddler haircut is one significant milestone of growth. But, no matter how exciting parents may feel about it, for toddlers, the first haircut can be scary and traumatic. Here are a few things that may make it a more successful experience.

Do Not Use The “Cut” Word

In reality, a toddler haircut is different from an actual haircut. It is more of a “trim”. Change your terminology so instead of saying “haircut” use the word “hair trim” or “fix-up”. Children associate the word “cut” with pain so hearing you say it will most likely make your toddler frantic especially if he has been cut before.

Bring Him to A Salon

Bring your toddler the next time you, your husband or his older sibling gets a haircut. In this way, your little one gets to see how it is done. Do not forget to smile while having your hair cut and rave about how you like your new hairstyle. Once your toddler sees your enthusiasm, his outlook will definitely change.

Make Sure He Is In A Good Mood

Toddlers are unpredictable so see to it your toddler is in a pleasant disposition. The best time to have his hair cut? In the morning or after his afternoon nap. A sleepy and grumpy toddler will have no interest in having a stranger arrange his hair. Dress your toddler in comfortable clothes. Go for a simple, pastel-colored cotton tank and shorts or pants. Lightweight clothes will help your baby feel relaxed and avoid those itchy hair trimmings.

Grab a meal first. Make sure you go to the salon with a happy and satisfied tummy. Give him a snack on your way to the salon. Offer a filling, healthy meal of foods your little one enjoys so that no tummy grumbling ensues at the salon.

Go With The Pros

Look for salons in your area that caters to children. Go for a salon with an attractive and bright ambiance. Some salons have chairs shaped like a car or an animal with a motor and horn or those that emit music. Hairdressers garbed in colorful uniforms amuse children which is very effective in keeping the tears at bay.

Provide A Distraction

Take something with you to divert your toddler’s attention. A lollipop, cookie, toy, books with flaps or a portable DVD player playing his favorite superhero movie will keep him glued in. Once your toddler’s thoughts are occupied, the stylist can quickly trim the edges and you will be out of there in no time.

Experiment

Have someone else take him to the salon - his aunt, uncle or babysitter perhaps. If all else fails, do the trimming on your own. Do it at home during his nap time, while taking a bath or while he is playing outside. Just make sure you cut his hair while he is unconscious.

Give Him A Treat

Rewards always get a toddler excited. Sweeten the deal by informing your toddler that if he behaves while having his hair cut, he will get a reward.

A toddler haircut is indeed a difficult activity parents and children have to deal with. But with patience, a little prodding and advance planning, you can save the stylist, your baby and yourself unneeded stress and tension.

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Coping With The Terrible Two’s


Parenting is a challenge. And once your little one gets to the terrible twos stage, it becomes more difficult for the both of you. You will know your toddler is well through this stage when your toddler goes from being cute one minute to throwing a fit the next. There are various styles to handle your toddler’s temperament. Resolve this by being prepared to avert any major outbursts.

Terrible twos often occur to 2 year old children. Mainly, this trying stage in their life consists of saying no and throwing tantrum displays every so often. To help you out, here are some tips on how to cope with terrible twos.

Handling Terrible Twos

Stay Calm and Collected

As the elder, you need to extend your patience as much as you can. Try your very best to remain calm. Keeping your cool can be quite difficult, but once your toddler sees you stay undisturbed with his whines, chances of tantrum outbursts to elevate is minimized. Soothing your toddler’s ruffled feathers will make him at ease. So the next time he lashes out, pick him up and hug him tight. Pat his back. Whisper calming words or something appealing in his ear.

Identify What Triggers His Outbursts

You can effectively overcome terrible two’s by determining the causes of your toddler’s uneasiness. Avoid these circumstances by diverting his attention to something interesting. Say for example, if your little one starts throwing tantrums a few hours before bed time, then make sure his rough play stops a few hours before dinner time. Let him take a warm bath or give him a light snack to help him relax and calm his raving energy. Create a fun routine to which your toddler can easily stick to.

Offer Him Choices

At this stage in his life, your toddler wants to exercise his freedom and assert his independence. To give him what he wants, supply him with options about everything. If you know he dislikes eating breakfast, do not ask him if he wants to eat. Instead, let your toddler choose whether he wants cereal, pancakes or apples for his breakfast. Let him dress himself. When going shopping, seek your toddler’s opinion. Once he knows he can voice out his suggestions, he will no longer try so hard to seek attention by crying or screaming.

Provide Him With An Outlet

Channeling the negative emotions of your little one to something productive helps balance his temperament. Enroll him in a sports class. Sign him to join summer camp or an arts and crafts workshop. At home, give your toddler stimulating toys like puzzles and building blocks. Encourage your toddler to draw, color, paint or any activity that will keep his mind and hands busy.

Instil Disciplinary Measures

Striking a balance between not scolding and ignoring your toddler’s outbursts is important. Do not listen to his temper tantrums while he is still on the verge of screaming. This will make your toddler understand that the right way to catch your attention is to talk to you, not to shout at you. If he becomes violent and starts to throw things or hit people, give him a time out. Let him sit in his room alone for a couple of minutes. Only allow him to come back once he has calmed down. The time spent alone will make him evaluate his behaviour.

Listen

Be a listener instead of a talker. When your toddler has simmered down, let your toddler talk. Listen to his explanation. In this way, you are able to understand him better helping you sort out his problems easier. Afterwards, talk to him and explain why his actions displeased you. Tell him about the possible consequences of his actions if he repeats it. By doing so, you are able to determine the root of his temper tantrums and come up with solutions to resolve problems together.

Give Praise

Whenever your toddler does something good, always commend him. Remember to say thank you for the kiss he gave you or for helping you pick up his toys. Once your toddler knows that you appreciate every little thing he does or says, you make him feel good inspiring him to be better.

Coping with your toddler’s terrible twos need not be a nightmare. After all, this is just a passing stage in his development. Discipline him with firmness. Give ample space to let him resolve tantrums on his own. By doing so, you still give him the freedom he wants while assuring him that he matters to you.

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Five Causes of Toddler Tantrums And Ways to Prevent Them


Mood swings, tantrum displays, constant arguments, kicking and screaming are just some of the most common toddler tantrums. This display of emotion is practically normal especially during the early stages of a little one’s development. But, it is also important to minimize outrage as early as possible. To help you effectively deal with them, you must first determine what triggers these emotions.

Coping with toddler tantrums is one of the most challenging tasks of parenting. The key to eliminating some of them is to understand your child. From there, you may be able to recognize its causes and come up with techniques to help your toddler control himself.

Toddler Tantrums – Cause and Prevention

1.) Boredom

Cause: Boredom is one of the most basic causes of toddler meltdowns. Once he gets bored, he becomes gloomy and a gloomy child makes an unhappy family. This tantrum can be due to doing or getting too much of something. A certain activity (e.g. reading, writing, watching TV, etc.) that is done repeatedly can lose its charm making your toddler restless.

Solution: At his tender age, your little one thrives on physical and intellectual activities. Anything that keeps him busy and active will make him happy. The secret to combating boredom is to have variation with his day to day activities. If he likes reading books, give him the task of creating his own stories. When playing games, allot him 30 minutes of playing online games and another 30 minutes to play outdoors. Mentally stimulating activities satisfy him since he gets to learn different things every hour of the day.

If what he craves is a change of scenery, go out. Do grocery shopping together. Visit the park, zoo or malls. Watch a movie together. At home, assign him simple household chores like helping you cook dinner, putting dirty clothes inside the hamper and so on. His short attention span will be well compensated once he juggles various tasks.

2.) Frustration

Cause: Remember the feeling of being incapable to express your needs and wants? It’s a very frustrating feeling isn’t it? Your toddler is still too young to process emotions on his own. Hence, once he does not relay something correctly or you cannot understand what he is trying to tell you, he gets disappointed. Or, it may be because he wants to exert his freedom yet you are controlling him.

Solution: Careful observation is the answer to this toddler tantrum. You need to take a closer look at your little one’s actions, words, body and facial expressions. While it can be irritating on your part, you need to stay calm and be patient. Speak in a clear, firm and slow manner. Use soothing words to cool him down. Let your toddler sit in your lap. Have eye contact and then ask him what is bothering him. Once he sees you unruffled with his outrage, he can properly process the message he wants to deliver.

3.) Hunger or Fatigue

Cause: It is normal to get a little grumpy when one is hungry or tired. However, it can trigger other tantrum problems. Children are prone to this. Too much physical play or being overly stimulated can make your toddler agitated.

Solution: To prevent these outbursts, be aware of your toddler’s eating and sleeping time. Never go out with your toddler especially when a meal or nap are due. Instead, leave him at home. After a rigorous hour of playing, let your little one rest and prepare him healthy meals that can rejuvenate his lost energy.

4.) Wants Attention

Cause: Toddlers always like to be in everybody’s center of attention, and once they feel the slightest sign of neglect, they instantly throw tantrums to catch your interest.

Solution: The best way to prevent this is to shower your toddler your undivided attention at appropriate times. He wants security and affirmation. Even with a busy schedule, reserve several hours for bonding time. Together, you can play with his toys, read him books, cuddle or simply talk to him. Once he is secured of your love, he no longer feels threatened. Also, never give in to his tantrums. By ignoring it, he will soon realize he won’t get anything from it.

5.) Unable to Get Things He Wants

Cause: You and your toddler are in the toy store. He spots a robot and asks you to buy it. You decline him since he has plenty of robots at home. What do you get? A major breakdown.

Solution: While spoiling your toddler is a big no-no, take some time to consider his pleas. If you think his request is unreasonable, then be consistent with your decision. By being firm and not giving in to his outcries helps you discipline your toddler. By doing so, he learns how to respect your decision and understand that he cannot have his way all the time.

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Effective Tips For Dealing With Toddler Tantrums


Generally, toddlers are full of emotions. Most often, these mixed emotions are what causes toddlers to throw a fit since they cannot completely relay what they feel. Tantrums happen even to the most well behaved children. Watching your little one go from being calm and cheerful to a series of crying and bashing is frustrating and stressful. But, the good news is that controlling your toddler’s tantrums is doable. You just have to know and understand what his feelings and desires are.

Toddler tantrums are absolutely normal. It is their way of coping with their feelings. According to studies, tantrums are a good sign that your toddler trusts you very much that he expects you to be able to determine what his thoughts and feelings are.

Tips For Coping With Your Toddler’s Tantrums

Losing one’s temper, spanking and hitting are not useful techniques when dealing with toddler tantrums as this will only increase their distraught. Here are a few simple yet proven tips to help compose your upset toddler.

Ignore It

The best way to make your toddler stop his tantrums is to simply not pay any attention. Once your toddler begins his meltdown, leave the room (but keep an eye on him to ensure he is safe) for awhile and let him cry out all his distress. There must be no eye contact and no words exchanged between the two of you. Having no audience to watch him throw a fit will make him stop crying immediately. He will soon realize that what he is doing is not working and most likely will not try to repeat his outbursts.

Keep Your Eyes Open

Tantrums usually take place when your toddler is feeling or wanting something. Understand why he is upset. Look for its core. Do his tantrums occur when he is hungry, tired, rushed or bored? Where does he usually throw a fit? Is it in the grocery store, playground or his day care center? Keep a small notebook handy to help you record his quick display of emotions. This will also help you recognize his pre-tantrum indications so you will know how to deal with it before your toddler blows up.

Keep Your Cool

Your toddler’s tantrums can get the best of you especially when it is done in public. Rather than losing your temper, just stay cool and keep your calm to lighten the situation. While it can be really embarrassing, just carry your toddler to a more private place, say for example in the bathroom or in your car to give him time to settle down.

Listen to Him

Your toddler not being able to completely express what he wants to say is already causing him too much frustration. Treat him like an adult and give him your full attention. Listen to what he wants to say. Reflect on it and talk to him about it letting him feel that you understand him. Use calming words and actions. Pat his back, whisper to his ear, hum his favorite song or wipe his tears.

Explain

Whenever your toddler wants something that is not possible, he gets mad and throws tantrums. Explain to him why you cannot grant his request. If he wants another robot and yet he already has 20 of it at home, explain to him why you will not buy him one this time. Tell him he has plenty of robots and some are still unused.

Give Him A Signal

Once your toddler is on the verge of throwing tantrums, give him a warning. Be firm about it and speak in an authoritative manner in telling him you are not happy with his behaviour. This signals your toddler that his behaviour is not proper and if he does not stop there will be consequences. You need to make him understand both of your limitations.

Divert His Attention

Distract and divert your toddler’s attention when he is having an outburst. Point out things you know your child likes. Give him his favorite teddy bear, look up to the sky so he can see the airplane or point out a little girl who is happily sitting in her chair. Distraction gives your toddler’s energy enough time to deflect allowing him to stop his crying quickly.

Your toddler’s tantrums does not make you a bad parent. It simply is a normal stage your child goes through during his development. Just listen to him. Stay calm and discipline him. Always make him feel you are always there for him.

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