Handling Tantrums - Tip Sheet
It’s something we’ve all seen or experienced - a loud and distressed toddler throwing a tantrum right there in the middle of the grocery aisle at your local supermarket. Somewhere nearby you will find an embarrassed Mom or Dad doing their best to either ignore the child or convince them to stop.
The fact is, tantrums are to be expected in childhood, particularly in 2-year-olds, and the first time a child throws a tantrum can be quite hard on parents, especially if there are visitors present or you are out in public.
So what’s the reason behind it all?
Sometimes there are no obvious clues as to why a toddler will suddenly throw a tantrum, but most often it is when they are feeling frustrated or angry. Like adults, toddlers can become frustrated when they are unable to manage a difficult task or things just don’t go they way they expect. Young children may also not yet know enough words to say exactly what it is they want, become overtired, or not like being told No.
Tantrums usually begin at about 12 months of age and are less common
in 3 and 4-year olds as children begin to learn other ways to solve
problems. Of course, children being the individuals that they are, some
will have a naturally quiet and easy-going nature and may rarely have
tantrums, whereas others with quick tempers may have frequent tantrums
and will need their parent’s help to grow out of the behavior.
But
while tantrums often appear as a highly visible form of disruptive
behavior, they present us with the important opportunity to help teach
our children how to manage frustration and anger. Knowing how to deal
with the inevitable frustrations of life and possessing the ability to
express anger in appropriate ways are powerful tools for a successful
adulthood.
A tantrum may last as short as 20 seconds or
go on for hours. It may include crying, screaming, stamping feet and
rolling around on the floor. Sometimes it will also involve the rather
frightening sight of a child holding their breath, although all children
will eventually take a gasp of air. The challenge for parents is to
deal with tantrums as soon they first occur and to teach your child to
calm down quickly, thus reducing the distress on both yourselves and
your child.
One of the best places to start tackling
tantrums is by helping reduce the chances of them occurring at all.
Where practical, put away items in your house that you do not want your
child to touch. This avoids you having to say “No” too often. Provide a
predictable environment for your child — let them know throughout the
day what you are doing and what is going to happen. It is also a good
idea to have a few simple and realistic rules and to keep to a routine
for your child’s meal and sleep times.
Tackling tantrums may take a few weeks of concerted effort and
consistent application of “time-out” and other strategies. To help you
see if progress is being made try to jot down each time you use
“time-out” and how long it takes. After a week, the tantrums should be
less frequent, and you will be well on your way toward helping your
child learn some important new social skills.