Tips to deal with tantrums
Tips to deal with tantrums
l Develop a strategy - Have a clear plan for how you will handle a tantrum for a range of situations; that is, at home, out shopping and playing at friends' houses. If a tantrum then occurs, remember to focus on your plan rather than the tantrum. This will help to keep you calm and in control;
l Distract your child - Refocus their attention by calmly offering something else to do, see, eat or play with. Serious tantrums often develop from small tantrums. The faster you can intervene, the better;
l Acknowledge their feelings - This aligns you with them and sets the stage for the children to begin to work through their own problems; when setting up a chart for positive behaviour they need to work towards, it helps your child to focus on a positive goal.
When a child throws a tantrum, stay within its sight but carry on normal activities without talking to him or acknowledging the tantrum;
l Start a clean slate - Once a tantrum is over, the child is entitled to start over with a clean slate. But any original demands the child had should not be fulfilled. Otherwise, tantrums will become a way of life;
l Stay strong - If a tantrum does happen you need to be strong.
If you are out shopping, leave the shopping basket where it is and take your child out to the car or somewhere quiet until the tantrum is over. They need to see they can't hold you hostage; and
l Keep a diary - For a few days - when the tantrums happen - note what time of day, what you are doing and what your child is doing. If it always happens around dinner, try letting your child have her dinner earlier, giving her a bath before dinner, letting her help you prepare the meal or having some special time with her at this time of day. - Kidspot
How to deal with tantrums
Tips to deal with tantrums
Tips to deal with tantrums
l Develop a strategy - Have a clear plan for how you will handle a tantrum for a range of situations; that is, at home, out shopping and playing at friends' houses. If a tantrum then occurs, remember to focus on your plan rather than the tantrum. This will help to keep you calm and in control;
l Distract your child - Refocus their attention by calmly offering something else to do, see, eat or play with. Serious tantrums often develop from small tantrums. The faster you can intervene, the better;
l Acknowledge their feelings - This aligns you with them and sets the stage for the children to begin to work through their own problems; when setting up a chart for positive behaviour they need to work towards, it helps your child to focus on a positive goal.
When a child throws a tantrum, stay within its sight but carry on normal activities without talking to him or acknowledging the tantrum;
l Start a clean slate - Once a tantrum is over, the child is entitled to start over with a clean slate. But any original demands the child had should not be fulfilled. Otherwise, tantrums will become a way of life;
l Stay strong - If a tantrum does happen you need to be strong.
If you are out shopping, leave the shopping basket where it is and take your child out to the car or somewhere quiet until the tantrum is over. They need to see they can't hold you hostage; and
l Keep a diary - For a few days - when the tantrums happen - note what time of day, what you are doing and what your child is doing. If it always happens around dinner, try letting your child have her dinner earlier, giving her a bath before dinner, letting her help you prepare the meal or having some special time with her at this time of day. - Kidspot