How Toddler’s Tantrums Are Managed

While you are still enjoying the toothless grin and the chirping laughter of your beloved baby in your arms, here comes the sitting, crawling and lastly the walking phase, when the baby turns toddler. Each phase of your child tests your patience level and teaches you new lessons about parenting. Toddlers are in the stage of understanding the world around them and learning new skills by exploring things, touching and throwing stuff.

You might still doubt if this is same baby who resembled an angel few months ago but their innocent minds start taking shape in the toddler phase. They gradually understand your relationship with them and the way you react when they do certain things.

Sometimes, you may ignore their wrong doings thinking that he or she is just a child and will learn eventually in future. But this is right time you must ensure that they don’t turn into spoilt brats. Because they realise that by throwing tantrums in certain manner, you as parents will definitely get succumbed to their demands.

The toddler stage marks the developing years of a child and builds the foundation of the kind of human you want them to become and this is why, no matter how baffled and exhausted you are, you must read here to know the art of managing toddler’s tantrums:

1. Check On The Initial Symptoms

Whenever your child throws a tantrum, note the events that lead to such behaviour. Check all the initial symptoms and try to avoid such situations and try to pacify them by keeping them distracted. This helps you in understanding how your child develops the need to throw tantrums and you can easily avoid such situations from creating embarrassment in public.

2. Control Your Anger

Your kid showcases frustration and anger which you may be failing to control and you may in a fit of rage, raise your voice and even hit your toddler. The most important parenting tip while managing toddler’s tantrums is to stay calm and be patient enough to understand the ways to cope with it.

3. Understand The Root Cause

Toddlers are always busy and active and they mostly need constant attention from their parents. If your child throws tantrums, then understand why your child is behaving this way. Sometimes the tantrum can be a result of sickness, hunger, boredom or just wants you to play with him or her.

Don’t assume that your kind behaviour in such situations can encourage such bad behaviour but tactfully handling the situation by catering to your toddler’s needs can help in reducing such tantrums.

4. Keep Communication Lines Strong

Converse a lot with your child and try to strengthen your bond by understanding him or her better. Be a good listener to your child and guide their behavioural patterns so that instead of throwing tantrums, they can directly speak to you about what they feel or want.

5. Appreciate Every Good Work

Managing your child’s tantrums will become a lot easier if you start appreciating every good task they do. While you instantly react to the negative aspects of your child, take every opportunity to praise when your toddler does something good by kissing or clapping. This is how they understand the difference between good and bad behaviour.

Recommended: The Art of Correct Upbringing

6. Set Punishments In Accordance

While praising for their good tasks is necessary, punishing them for wrong doings is equally essential. Don’t be harsh with setting punishments as it can develop hatred for you in the child’s mind. Don’t be too lenient in your punishment approach too, because it might not help them in understanding that what they did must not be repeated.

7. Don’t Avoid Tantrums

Most parents believe in avoiding to pay heed to the toddler’s tantrums thinking that it may discourage them from behaving in such aggressive manner. But avoiding tantrums will not help in letting your child understand that such behaviour to fulfil their demands is unwarranted.

8. Involve The Child In Household Chores

Keep your child involved in routine work. In most occasions, tantrums are just their manner of wanting your attention. Give your child some simple tasks like arranging his or her room, keeping books, clothes and shoes in order and buy them some colouring books and toys that help in building their cognitive abilities.  

9. Keep Your Tone Firm & Kind

It is always easier to lose your temper and sentence a harsh punishment whenever your toddler throws tantrums. But managing toddler’s tantrums takes a lot of patience and this is why you must kindly speak to your child but in firm tone. Even if you punish, your tone must be polite enough to bring your child to listening mode.

10. Don’t Be Bossy

Bossing your toddler and issuing instructions every single minute will not help in teaching the importance of behaving well. In fact, being bossy on your child can make him or her more aggressive and frustrated. Teaching your toddler the significance of behaving in a disciplined manner requires you to be his or her mentor and close confidant.