Dealing with Toddler Tantrums

As a parent of three toddlers I've found myself dealing with an abundance of temper tantrums. It's an experience every parent goes through in raising children. Tantrums are simply a part of your child's growing stage. However, there are things that we can do or say to help our toddlers past this inevitable stage. We sometimes find ourselves dealing with tantrums at some places we might consider "inconvenient," such as when we're out shopping. So how do we deal with this?

First we need to understand exactly why our toddlers throw temper tantrums. Typically our toddlers throw tantrums either out of frustration or in order to manipulate us. With tantrums thrown in frustration it's simply because they know of no other way to channel this impatience or anger With younger toddlers it's probably due to a lack of verbal skills. Once they're able to tell you want they need or want you will see less and less of these types of tantrums. Manipulative tantrums are those that are thrown in an effort, on our toddler's part, to get what they want out of us. As parents we need to ask ourselves why our child is throwing a tantrum and react accordingly.

Keep calm and don't lash out. Ask yourself, is this a tantrum of frustration or of manipulation? Identify why you child is throwing a tantrum. If they're tired, hungry or bored it's probably a tantrum of frustration. Try to soothe them with calming words or by holding them. You can also try distracting them from their tantrum. Ideally we want to avoid these types of tantrums by eliminating these triggers. If you're going to go out with your child make sure that they are well fed and rested before setting out. If you take them out shopping in the afternoon when you know it's near their nap time or dinner, the chances are high you'll be dealing with a tantrum of frustration later on. Boredom is also a big trigger for causing tantrum. Make sure to include your child in your activities. Ask them to help you pick out an item at the store. Keep them busy and entertained. Make note of what triggers tantrums in your toddler and try to avoid those types of triggers.