Real Parents Share Five Temper Tantrum Tricks That Might Help

A temper tantrum is a perfectly normal part of a child’s development. If a kid is denied a random desire or feels a need isn’t being met, they lash out by crying, screaming, flailing, hitting, and a range of other behaviors. This doesn’t mean that every parent must accept tantrums as part of everyday life. Some parents shared tips that could prove helpful.

Share a Time Out and a Hug

Some parents share that, when their child starts acting out and having a temper tantrum, a time-out seems to do the trick. But, this doesn’t mean sending a child to face the corner alone. Instead, take your child and sit together, holding them until they calm down. A big hug can help them feel safer, which could help them calm down faster. When the situation settles, talk to the child about what just happened.

Wait Out a Temper Tantrum

Sometimes, the best thing to do about a tantrum is to wait it out. If a child notices that they get more attention or get their way by throwing a tantrum, that’s negative conditioning and reinforcement. If they’re having a meltdown just to get their way, it might be best to ignore it and direct your attention away from the tantrum. Once the noise and uproar stop, ask the child what they wanted or what upset them. Remind them to always use their words to express their feelings.

Suggest Alternatives

A temper tantrum can be as difficult for a child to calm down from as it is for a parent to endure. Instead of letting them spend a lot of time in this storm of emotion, offer a few alternatives. It could be a walk in the park, reading their favorite book, or another fun activity that might take the child’s mind off the tantrum.

Keep Them Busy

Parents often deal with temper tantrums at the grocery store. A child might get bored or overstimulated by the bustling and colorful surroundings. One good trick is to engage the child in the shopping activity. Ask them to hand you something from the shelf if they can reach it, to help you look for an item, to hold onto something for you for a moment, or to look at the fish or lobster aquarium.

Don’t Give in to Tantrums

If a child throws a tantrum instead of asking for something politely, a parent should refrain from giving them what they want. If the tantrum increases, remind them of something else, like a planned trip to the playground, and note that, if they can’t improve their behavior, perhaps you might have to cancel those fun plans. Seeing possible repercussions of the tantrum could help them reevaluate and calm down.