As your child makes the transition from baby to toddler and toddler to child, the way they express their anger evolves. When they were a baby there was just one cry for everything whether it was hunger, being tired, or wanting to be held. However, as children mature yet don’t quite yet have the grasp on language to be able to express themselves, they tend to throw a lot of tantrums.
We’ve all seen the child at the grocery store rolling around on the floor screaming that they want something. It can be a lot to handle the younger that they are since there is no way to negotiate or try to reason with them due to the language barrier. Many parents find themselves helplessly giving in, while others battle it out unsuccessfully. Some parents find themselves so desperate that they are ready to put their home up for sale, buy a one-way ticket to Tahiti, and call it quits altogether.
These tough times won’t last forever, however. When it comes to the dreaded temper tantrums, here are some of the best ways to deal with them.
Time Outs
Sometimes the best thing to do is remove the child from the situation altogether. Putting them in a time-out chair or time-out corner shows them that they are not allowed to behave like that if they want to hang out with the rest of the family.
Some parents may feel unsure about this technique, worried that it may make them feel isolated, or hurt their feelings. However, studies show that time-outs are incredibly effective when exercised consistently and in a calm and assertive manner.
Good Behavior Charts
Positive reinforcement gets kids excited about their good deeds and enthusiastic about earning rewards for their efforts. A sticker chart helps them see a visual representation of how well they are doing and how close they are to reaching their goal.
The idea is that at the end of a filled sticker chart they get a privilege or reward that you feel is appropriate. Once they start seeing that there are consequences for their actions and rewards for their good deeds, they will have much more incentive to be good.
Try To Find Out The Source Of The Problem
Many parents make the mistake of dismissing tantrums as simply their age or a lack of sleep. However, many times there is a deeper problem such as separation anxiety, food allergies, illnesses, or even the distress of something like their parent’s separation.
It’s important to try to rule any of these out when dealing with temper tantrums. Talk to your pediatrician if the tantrums are more persistent than usual.