We have all been there.
Your child has hit their terrible twos and the tantrums just keep on coming.
It isn’t an easy time and it can really take a toll on you and your child.
Just remember, it doesn’t last forever.
You can weather the storm and, one day soon, the storm will be over. (Until they hit their teenage years…)
There a couple of ways that you can weather the storm a little easier and with a little less stress involved for everyone.
Check them out below.
Allow Your Child To Be Angry
Desperately trying to stop your toddler from having a tantrum can really just make said tantrum worse.
You getting angry and irritated will only rub off on your toddler who is already upset, and everything can very easily descend into chaos.
It’s hard to not be angry or even embarassed if your child is having a tantrum, of course it is.
But it’s important to try and take a step back and let your child feel their feelings and show their emotions.
Try not to step immediately into a “fixing” role and rather just be beside them to experience their discomfort with them.
When it’s all happening just try and remember that this stage won’t last forever and you will get your calm child back again soon.
Limit Destruction and Aggression
Saying all this, do try and limit the physical aggression from your child. Don’t let them break things or cause themselves/others any harm. It’s good to let them feel their feelings but this has limits, and it is still your job to keep them safe.
Offer Support and A Hug
Like we’ve said, it is very easy to get angry at our children when they are throwing a tantrum, but this just does not help.
Being a child is difficult and it can be scary. Children don’t always know what is going on around them and they have no control over any of it. They can’t communicate properly yet and they are very small.
No wonder they get frustrated.
Try and offer them some physical and emotional support when they are throwing a tantrum.
Try and remind yourself that they are upset and that they need comforted.
Offer a listening ear and a hug, and hopefully they will begin to calm down.
Offer a Distraction
Try and move attention away from the tantrum at hand by offering your child a distraction. Sometimes they may be overstimulated, understimulated, or something in-between.
Try to offer them an easy and quick alternative to whatever they were doing when they began their tantrum.
If you are out in public, try and keep some objects on you that you can pull out when a tantrum arises.
Some little toys, colouring books, activity books and sensory toys can really help if you have them on-hand in public places.
Try Not To Give into The Demands
Even though it’s hard, giving into your toddler’s demands during their tantrums only reinforces the idea to them that when they scream and shout, they get what they want.
Try and do everything else you can first: listening, allowing the emotions, offering a distraction, giving comfort, before you would consider giving in to whatever you child wants.
The only exceptions to this would be if they are hungry, thirsty or sleepy and they need one of these core needs to be met and that’s why they are upset.
In any other circumstance, it is important to practise the difficult skill of staying strong in the face of the tantrum.
Keep strong and firm.
You can get through it. And so can your child.
