Who does not love Ice-cream, the soothing summer speciality? A gulp down the throat and you are relieved. My kid had tasted ice-cream first time this summer and he loved it to a great extent. Scoops of ice-cream would vanish in seconds, but the dinner would stay on the plate untouched.
After ice-cream, we tried chocolate and that also became loved possession. The size of bite though small, but having a bite became necessity. Soon enough, the health indicator of the Mommy-me was on high alert and we started cutting back on it. But when is it ever easy to say no to a child? The transition from ice-cream to I-scream was quick! It was then I realized that the phase of toddler tantrum had started.
Toddler tantrum can range from whining, crying to screaming and self-harm. Initially it was difficult to manage and then the age-old wisdom from my mother came to rescue. You can also try these tips and it might help you too!
How to handle toddler tantrums?
- All kids get cranky when hungry or sleepy. These are the first signs to check if a toddler has a meltdown.
- Give attention to your kids request. If reasonable then allow it and have an agreed limit for it. Example – Watching TV for 15 minutes or having only a bites of chocolate.
- Offer your kids choice between two similar things to avoid situations which can lead to tantrum. Asking questions which can be answered with direct no from kids is a big no-no. Example – Eat apple or a banana.
- Distraction can be another useful way to avoid confrontation. And, it works well for most of the kids. Removing the object from sight which causes distress works like a charm. Or, try doing an alternate activity to keep the kid engaged.
- If you are facing toddler tantrum after you have refused something to a child, ignore the tantrum. Move away and give the kid time to collect their thoughts. The kids realize in short time that crying does not always help. Do make it a point to explain them calmly why the request was denied.
- If nothing is helping, at times ignoring the tantrum is a feasible option.
You need to be consistent in your behavior too! If you give in once and ignore the other time, it might leave the kid more confused and crankier. Love your kid and talk positively when all is calmed. A soothing voice can do wonders. 🙂
Do let me know if these tips are helpful for you and also share ways in which you handle toddler tantrums. Will keep adding any new suggestions to the list. Till then, happy mommying! 🙂
This post is written as part of MyFriendAlexa initiative by team Blogchatter and I am taking my blog to next level. You can read my last post on a fun checklist for all mothers too!