Strategies for Handling Toddler Tantrums
Let us discuss the ways to handle toddler tantrums.
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Make a Structures Routine for Reducing Anxiety
The parents should make a structured timetable for the meal, bedtime and nap of the baby. The structured timetable helps the baby know what they should expect from the parents throughout the day. The helps reduce anxiety and inhibit any tantrums that the toddler may cause.
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Sleep and Nutrition
The parents must ensure that the toddler gets adequate sleep and eat nutritious food. The lack of sleep and a non-nutritious diet may cause emotional outbursts in the toddler. Therefore, the parents should make sure that they get enough sleep and have consistent snacks and meals.
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Ensure Opportunity for Meaningful Play
The parents must ensure that the kids take part in physical activities. This includes jumping, running, playing outside etc. This helps reduce the stress and improves the overall mood of the kid. Therefore, the parents must encourage the kids to play outside. However, if the kids are 2 or below two years of age, the parents should take them outside and play with them to boost their mood.
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Support Self-expression Skills
The parents should help the children to build their vocabulary. Many a time, a kid wishes to demonstrate his feelings. However, due to a lack of vocabulary, he fails to express himself. Therefore, the parents must narrate different stories and check if they can grasp those stories. In addition, the parents should talk to the child as much as possible. This helps the kids to understand different kinds of words.
By improving vocabulary, the kid can express himself. The parents can also try various kinds of activities such as naming an emotion. This helps the kid to better understand the emotion and express his feelings. This can reduce their reliance on tantrums to communicate their desire. When the kids fail to express themselves, they choose tantrums to pass their message.
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Praise Positive Behaviour
The parents must notice their positive behaviour and praise them. This shall encourage them to repeat their behaviour. It shall reinforce the behaviour that the parents wish to see.
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Adjust the Environment that Suits the Baby
There might be some places that may not suit the baby and can trigger tantrums. This includes loud and crowded places which the kids may not like. Therefore, the parents must switch the place if crowded and make a conducive environment for the comfort of the toddler. In addition, the parents may also prepare them in advance to expect the different kinds of situations. They must prepare them for the situation they may expect in each environment.
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Speak Gently
The parents must speak to the toddler gently. They should not get angry as this may trigger their tantrum.
Wrapping Up!
It may be difficult to do, but the present should stay calm during the tantrum. They should remember that getting angry might make the situation worse. They should speak gently to make them calm. In addition, the parents must acknowledge the feelings of the baby to make them understood. They should talk and convince them not to get upset. The parents can also use distraction to prevent their tantrums.
For example, if the toddler is sad about leaving a place, the parents should promise them a different place better than the previous one. The parents must make rules and let them know the consequences of breaking such rules. At last, the parents should praise their positive behaviour. This shall encourage them to repeat their behaviour again.