The terrible twos … even the most dignified parent
has been left red-faced and wanting to be swallowed into the ground
while their toddler is having a public meltdown. Here are a few easy
ideas for avoiding toddler tantrums...
Don’t Let Them Get Over Tired
Don’t let your toddler become too tired. Set a regular nap routine and
try to stick to it, and make sure he goes to bed at a reasonable time
and gets enough sleep during the night. Tiredness is often the first
reason for a tantrum.
Keep Sugar Levels Stable
Don’t let your toddler’s blood sugar levels dip too low. This will make
him irritable and tired, and a tantrum could soon follow. Make sure he
has plenty of small nutritious snacks throughout the day to provide him
with a steady source of energy to avoid blood sugar dips.
Give Them Time
Allow enough time for activities like getting dressed, brushing their
hair and getting in and out of the car. Your toddler will want to do a
lot of these things on his own and rushing him is a sure way to start a
tantrum. Give him a little extra time and let him try to be independent
by allowing him to do certain things for himself.
Give Them "Five Minutes' Warning"
Try to get into the habit of giving your toddler a signal that you will
be packing up, going out, moving on or whatever, about five minutes
before you plan to do so. At first he won't understand what five minutes
is, but after a while he will get used to it and many tantrums will be
averted. Nobody likes to drop everything at a moment's notice,
especially when they are enjoying themselves - and yet we often expect
children to do just that!
We have a "five minutes' warning" signal - I hold up
my hand with fingers spread and make sure that my kids see it clearly -
which we still use even though my oldest is now in his teens. When my
kids were younger I was often praised for how well they behaved when it
was time to leave a friend's house - and I know that our "five minutes'
warning" training was the reason!
Put it Away
Is there a certain item that always causes your toddler to have a
tantrum? A food that’s only for after dinner or an item he shouldn’t
have? Then put it where he can’t see it. Out of sight, out of mind, is a
great way of avoiding tantrums!
Ignore It
This is easier said than done and of course it depends where your child
is having his tantrum. If you’re in the middle of the supermarket you
can’t just walk away or ignore your child especially if they’re grabbing
or breaking things. In this instance it may be best to gently pick up
your child and take him outside or to an area away from people and
noise. Give him a few minutes to calm down and a big hug.
If your child is having a tantrum in a safe place like at home, then
it’s best to walk away until he calms down. Make sure he can’t hurt
himself or anything or anyone else and just walk away. Once he’s
finished give him a hug and talk about what he’s feeling.
Give Him a Hug
Often your child just needs to be held and needs you to help him control
his emotions. If he’s in the middle of a tantrum try gently hugging him
and just hold him. A lot of the times this will completely diffuse the
tantrum. Be sensitive to his reactions and if you see your hug is only
making him more upset then give him a little space instead or try a
different approach.
Trick or Treating - Keep
Your Kids Safe Halloween is a holiday loved by kids everywhere. It’s a fun time
to dress up like silly or scary characters and go trick-or-treating in the
neighborhood. Be sure your kids are safe while trick-or-treating with these
quick tips..