5 Tips for How to Handle Toddler Tantrums

​It seems like every parent goes through it at some point – the dreaded toddler tantrum. You know, when your sweet little angel suddenly turns into a demonic banshee right in the middle of the grocery store? Or when they throw themselves on the ground and start kicking and screaming because you won’t let them have that extra cookie? Yeah, that’s a tantrum. And they are no fun for anyone involved.

If you’re dealing with toddler tantrums, never fear! Here are five tips for how to handle them like a pro:

1. Stay calm: This can be easier said than done when your child is spinning around like the Tasmanian Devil, but it’s important to try to stay calm when your child is having a tantrum. If you get angry or upset, it will only escalate the situation.

2. Don’t give in: It can be tempting to give in to what your child wants just to stop the tantrum, thinking in your head 'We don't care about justice, we just want quiet', but this will only reinforce the behavior. If you give in now, they will learn that throwing a tantrum is an effective way to get what they want.

3. Ignore the tantrum: In some cases, the best thing you can do is simply ignore the tantrum. This doesn’t mean you should ignore your child – continue to provide them with love and attention – but don’t give in to their demands. Eventually, they will tire themselves out and the tantrum will end.

4. Remove them from the situation: If ignoring the tantrum isn’t working, or if the tantrum is happening in a public place, you may need to remove your child from the situation. This means calmly picking them up and carrying them out of the grocery store, for example.

5. Time-out: In some cases, a time-out may be the best option. This usually means putting your child in a safe place – their room or a playpen – for a short period of time (1-2 minutes for every year of age). This gives them time to calm down and may help prevent future tantrums. We normally choose a corner in the room we are in along with them so that when the time-out has ended, we can engage in conversation about the tantrum and how to avoid it in the future.

Hopefully these tips will help you deal with toddler tantrums like a pro!

Create a Calm Environment

​We all know the feeling--you're trying to get things done and your toddler is having a full-blown tantrum. It can be frustrating, overwhelming, and honestly, a little bit scary. But there are things you can do to help prevent tantrums, and to calm your toddler down when they do happen.

One of the most important things you can do is to create a calm environment for your toddler. This means having a routine and sticking to it as much as possible. Toddlers thrive on predictability and routine helps to provide that. Try to have regular mealtimes, nap times, and playtimes. Of course, there will be days when things don't go as planned, but having a general routine will help to minimize tantrums.

It's also important to provide your toddler with choices. When you're about to do something that you know is going to trigger a tantrum (like getting dressed or going in the car seat), give them a choice of two things to help them feel in control. For example, "Do you want to wear the bear shirt or the boat shirt today?" This will help to avoid a tantrum while still getting them to do what you need them to do.

If a tantrum does happen, try to stay calm yourself. I know it's easier said than done, but the calmer you are, the more likely your toddler will be to calm down. Start by acknowledging their feelings: "I can see that you're really upset about this." Then, provide comfort and support: "I'm here for you and I'll help you through this." Finally, offer a solution: "Let's try this instead."

Creating a calm environment for your toddler can be a challenge, but it's so worth it. It will help to prevent tantrums and make them easier to deal with when they do happen.

Practice Positive Reinforcement

​When it comes to dealing with children, there are a lot of different approaches that parents can take. Some parents chose to use a more authoritarian approach, while others may take a more hands-off approach. However, one parenting style that has shown to be effective in raising happy and well-adjusted children is called positive reinforcement.

So, what is positive reinforcement? Positive reinforcement is when you provide a child with a pleasant consequence after they show good behavior. For example, if your child brushes their teeth without being asked, you may reinforce that behavior by letting them have more screen time the following day than normal.

One of the benefits of using positive reinforcement is that it encourages children to repeat desired behaviors. In the example above, your child is likely to continue brushing their teeth without being asked because they know that they will get a reward for doing so.

Another benefit of positive reinforcement is that it helps to build a strong parent-child relationship. When you praise your child and provide them with rewards for good behavior, they feel loved and appreciated. This ultimately leads to a deeper bond between parent and child.

If you're looking for an effective way to parent your child, then you should definitely try giving positive reinforcement a shot. Not only will it help to encourage desired behaviors and help to build a strong and loving relationship with your child but it will also aid in lowering the number of tantrums thrown! It's a win-win!

🧡Shine Bright, Kayla