Tips on Stopping Tantrums

It has happened to all of us. We try to squeeze in a few more errands before nap time and this causes your child have the dreaded public tantrum. Anyone who has been a parent or guardian has had to endure the public tantrum. Instead of losing your cool, and your senses, try taking a deep breath, smile at an understanding adult nearby, and then see if one of these tips will work:

1.   A reward for good behavior can do wonders. Something along the lines of, “if you stop crying now, I'll let you watch your favorite video tonight”.  Your child's favorite things can be wonderful motivators to use to help reinforce good behavior. But don’t overuse this tactic or your child. You can reinforce this behavior if your child starts to act out simply for the reward.

2.   Do not overwhelm a child that really just needs some peace and calm to settle down. Your child mirrors your response to their tantrum. If you respond by yelling at your child, this might just increase the tension and raise the level of your child’s tantrum or make it last longer. Try a calming hug and some kind words instead. Your child may just be looking for some validation for their feelings or frustration.

3.   It is ok to choose your battles. Sometimes you need to step in and stop the tantrum, other times, if they are not hurting themselves or anyone or anything around them, let the tantrum continue. This can help get their anger out. After the tantrum you can calmly explain to your child the consequences of their actions.

4.   Distract her/him with something. This is a great way to help your child calm down. Put a video on, listen to music, read a story, watch television, or read their favorite book. This is might not be easy to do during a tantrum, but if you find a distraction that works it might be enough to settle them down.