Admin
May 30, 2022

Temper tantrums among toddlers are a normal part of growing up. But sometimes, it can get out of hand. 

 

When your toddler is having a tantrum, it can get overwhelming and tough to keep yourself from losing your cool. At this age, toddlers haven’t developed their coping skills yet; they let it go by having a tantrum, instead. 

 

How do temper tantrums happen?

 

Child tantrums happen because of one simple thing: they are not getting what they want. For instance, for children between 1 – 2 years old often stem from trying to communicate they need something. Like milk, a diaper change, a toy, and not having developed language or communication skills, they have a hard time telling you what they want or need. So instead, they get frustrated and throw a tantrum. 

 

As for older toddlers, tantrums are more of a power struggle. Regardless of if they finally use words to tell you what they need or want, that does not mean tantrums are over. They still do not know how to handle their emotions. 

 

Experiencing this may have you question your own parenting skills. But you have to assure yourself that this is not a sign of bad parenting and is normal, especially for children in the developmental stage. 

 

 

 

While there is no perfect way to handle tantrums, there can be ways to prevent them from happening often. Here are some tips on how to handle toddler tantrums:

 

Be Consistent

 

Establishing a daily routine can help your child know what to expect. Stick to a routine as much as possible. A child’s temper is very short. If they do not have enough rest or quiet time, they may throw a tantrum. Let them have a regular schedule for naptime and bedtime. 

 

Plan and prepare ahead

 

When going out or running errands with your child, always make sure they are rested and fed. Take an interactive toy with you, and have them take part by helping to pick out a few things. You never know what will happen, especially if they get tired and hungry.

 

Praise good behavior

 

When your child exhibits inappropriate behavior, call them out. But if they show good behavior, give them praise! You can do this by saying they did a good job, or giving them a hug to make them feel you are proud of them. 

 

Let your child be angry

 

As your child is still learning how to process their emotions, sometimes they just need to let their anger out. Let them! Just make sure that they are not hurt. If you let them process their emotions and be able to get their feelings out, they regain self-control. You can also try to ask them what they are feeling and why it made them feel that way to help them process their feelings. 

 

Refrain from yelling

 

Remember, no matter how frustrated you are, you are still your child’s role model. How you handle the situation can adapt to how they will handle similar situations. Avoid yelling at them when they are having a tantrum and be a role model you want your child to have. 

 

 

Give them a hug

 

This may be the last thing you would like to do when your child is having a tantrum, but this can help them calm down. Give them a big firm hug and do not say a word when you do it. Hugs can make them feel secure and that you care about them, even if you don’t agree with their behavior. 

 

Don’t take it personally

 

When your child is throwing a tantrum, you may feel that you are at fault and you may question your own parenting skills. They may say hurtful words that may affect you, but you must not take them personally. Keep in mind that your child’s actions are simply to show off their frustrations and not meant to hurt you. 

 

Dealing with tantrums is never easy, but with the right outlook, you can deal with it without losing your cool!

 

Remember, toddler tantrums are normal for a child. As your child matures, they gain self-control and learn how to process their emotions better. They will learn how to communicate and cope with frustration effectively. Once they do, this means there will be fewer to no tantrums. 

 

You got this, mommies!

 

sources: parents.com, mayoclinic.com, kidshealth.org, freepik.com