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Control Those Temper Tantrums
Taming Toddler Outbursts
By Elizabeth Pantley
Take Away the Audience
As long as your child's tantrum is not dangerous to her or to property, feel free to say, "I'm leaving the room. Come and get me when you're done." And do just that. Busy yourself with something else, and wait patiently for your child to calm down. Big-kid tantrums? Make an agreement with an older child who displays tantrum behavior that when she starts to lose control, you're going to ask her to go to her room to cool off. If she doesn't go immediately to her room when asked, she will lose a privilege (decide in advance what that might be – telephone, TV, bike riding, for example) or she'll be assigned an extra chore. This is, of course, in addition to the fact that she still gets to go to her room to calm down.
Use Distraction
When you see your child beginning to lose control, distract her before the tantrum can turn into a full-blown outburst. Preventive Measures
Avoid tantrums by offering your child choices. Instead of saying, "Get ready for bed right now," which may provoke a tantrum, offer a choice, "What would you like to do first, put on your pajamas or brush your teeth?" In addition, you may be able to elude tantrums by avoiding the situations that most likely set your child off, such as allowing her to become overtired, overhungry or overstimulated. Take note: If your child has frequent intense tantrums it would be wise to talk with your pediatrician, a counselor or a family therapist.
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