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Toddler Tantrums, Child Tantrums and What You Can Do
Temper tantrums are a frustrating, but usually unavoidable part of parenting. All children go through a tantrum stage. This part of parenting can test the patience of even the most seasoned parents. There are different strategies that you can use to deal with a temper tantrum so they begin to happen less often and with less intensity.
What Is a Toddler Tantrum and Why Do They Happen?
A toddler tantrum is a sudden, intense emotion-filled outburst. Toddlers usually respond with emotional outbursts to get what they want when their needs are not being met. It can be very frustrating for parents that deal with them on a day-to-day basis. You may even feel like you aren’t doing a good job providing discipline for your child.
A tantrum sometimes happens because young children have limited language skills. Oftentimes, they cannot find the right language to express how frustrated or angry they might feel. When children are at a loss for words to communicate their feelings, they may resort to physical actions such as throwing toys or hitting in order to gain attention.
How to Reduce the Frequency of Temper Tantrums
It is common for toddlers to go through a time where they will have temper tantrums every day, and this is a normal part of childhood. However, there are some things that you can do as a parent in order to reduce the number of tantrums your child experiences. Here are a few tips:
Emphasize consistent rules in and out of the home
Emphasize consistent rules in and out of the home. Be sure to make them clear from an early age. For example, if a certain toy is only an outside toy, clearly communicate that this toy shouldn’t be brought into the house, and stay consistent with that rule.
Ask questions
Ask your child questions like, “What are you feeling?” in a curious tone of voice when they show signs of throwing a tantrum. This will teach them that feelings aren’t bad or wrong, but instead, an essential part of life. Tell your child, “I understand that you are feeling angry because you can’t play outside.” This will help your child can begin to find words that they can use to identify their feelings when they feel upset. To prevent a tantrum, it’s important to help your child identify that they are upset and ways they can express themselves.
Set ground rules
Set ground rules on where tantrums are allowed. While these may change from time to time, typically tantrums should only happen in a safe environment. For example, if your child throws things at people during tantrums then it might be best not to allow them near other individuals or family members during a meltdown. Helping your child identify a safe place to express their feelings (like their bedroom) also reinforces that upset feelings are okay, as long as they are handled appropriately.
Teach coping skills
Teach your child coping skills like how to pause and take a deep breath. Showing kids how to calm themselves down will reduce the chance of tantrums in general, but it is also a good way for children to learn how they can deal with their feelings when things get tough.
Why Tantrums Are Necessary for Development in Young Children
Toddler tantrums are not only inevitable at some point or another, but they are also a necessary outlet for pent up frustration. This is a normal form of developing emotional intelligence in children while boosting communication skills. The key is to help them recognize what they’re feeling and not ignore it, identify the trigger behind those feelings, and recognize how their feelings might make other people around them feel.
Make sure your child isn’t held responsible for their emotions. Let your child know being emotional does not mean you are bad or wrong. Toddlers might feel like crying because they are scared, hungry, or sad without understanding why they are throwing a tantrum.
Tips for Parents On How To Handle a Temper Tantrum
The best advice when it comes to a tantrum is to stay calm and try not to show anger or frustration. This will help your child learn how to manage their emotions the next time a difficult situation arises. By modeling appropriate ways to express emotions, you are building strategies for your child to begin appropriately expressing their own emotions.
Relieve Pent Up Energy Through Exercise
Exercise is a great way to blow off steam, and is helpful for both children and adults. When your child starts crying or gets overly excited or mad, getting them outside and playing can help relieve tantrums and expend excess energy. Getting outside and playing as a family is a great way to spend time together, too.
Role-Play to Express Emotion
Role-playing is a fantastic and helpful activity that can teach your kid to manage impulses and manage tantrums. One of the major factors affecting a child and their behavior is lack of self-control. Role-playing can help them develop this important skill, which is very much related to their ability to avoid tantrums.
Try Storytelling
Storytelling is another way to gain insight into your child’s imagination and the frame of mind they are in. There are a lot of great children’s books that talk about feelings and how to properly express them. This activity also lets them use their energy creatively with fun stories that can engage anyone of any age.
How Can I Help My Child Learn Self-Control When They Are Having a Tantrum?
Parents can help their child practice managing tantrums by implementing some of the following tips:
- Stay calm and unemotional. This will show your child what it looks like to have management of their feelings in tough situations, such as when they are having a tantrum or meltdown.
- Offer them solutions to dealing with their tantrum so they know you are listening to them acknowledging their feelings. This way your toddler or young child knows that parents are on their side.
- Don’t punish children who don’t react appropriately during difficult moments; instead, look at why they might be frustrated with others around them and talk them through it. Give them timeouts when necessary. Make sure they’re in a safe place such as their bedroom or a designated chair. Position timeouts as a way to cool down, rather than a punishment for their feelings.
- Celebrate any accomplishments with your kids and give them plenty of praise when they show their anger appropriately. This way it’s less likely to happen again because you have acknowledged their hard work.
What To Do if Your Child Throws Frequent Temper Tantrums at School or Daycare
If your child has frequent tantrums at school or at daycare, it may be time to talk to a professional for help. The most important thing with tantrums at school or daycare (or anywhere else in the community) is that they don’t interrupt others or interrupt the learning process in the classroom. If your child’s behavior disrupts other children nearby, it might be best to talk to someone who can explore why these outbursts are happening.
Consider a Chiropractor for Your Toddler’s Temper Tantrums
If your child’s tantrums aren’t getting any better, consider reaching out to a chiropractor for help. Chiropractors are trained not only to work with adults, but also assist young children with their health needs. When it comes to preventing toddler temper tantrums, you’ll want to find a chiropractor who can help your child with the following services:
Consciousness and Behavior Control
A child’s gut reactions are often more pronounced than for adults, which means they’re likely to have a tantrum more frequently without any reason behind it. Chiropractors can help children understand their thoughts, actions, and emotions so they can respond responsibly and avoid troubles.
Physical Growth and Development
Chiropractors will help patients grow properly by adjusting the spine, which in turn helps kids attain a proper posture and height. Your child should have more control of their physical body once they get adjusted, and the health of the physical body is directly related to one’s emotional wellbeing.
Mechanisms to Cope With Stress and Pressure
Sometimes kids simply don’t know how to deal with certain situations and emotions, especially in situations that are unexpected or unfair for your child. Chiropractors can help them understand and cope with new experiences properly so it doesn’t lead to tantrums down the road.
Improve Physical Health
Chiropractors can assist children with the following:
- Back pain or discomfort: This is one of the most common conditions seen in children, which is why it’s important for them to visit a chiropractor regularly.
- Headaches: As children get older, they gain more responsibilities related to school and other areas of their lives. This can often lead to stress headaches which can be addressed by a child’s chiropractor.
- Digestive Issues and Constipation: The spine controls the digestive system, which is why proper spinal care is so important. Chiropractors can help children get regular bowel movements and reduce the risk of constipation in the future.
- Autoimmune Disorders: Children’s immune systems aren’t fully developed yet, which means they’re more likely to develop autoimmune disorders than adults. A chiropractor can show you how to keep your child healthy, both inside and out.
ADIO Chiropractic in Madison, Wisconsin
Finding a pediatric chiropractor who can provide the right services is important to maximize your toddler or young child’s health and wellness in the future. You’ll also want a chiropractor who can work with your child as they grow and meet new challenges.
When Dr. Eric of ADIO Chiropractic (Madison, WI) works with children, the main focus is improving nervous system health. The nervous system is the most crucial part of a human’s body. It controls our behavior, it gives us thoughts and ideas, it helps with brain development and immunity. Everything we do relies on this network in some way or another. Taking your child to see an experienced pediatric chiropractor can lead to improved health and behavior, and reduce tantrums.
For more information on how chiropractic care can help reduce the number of tantrums your child experiences, connect with Dr. Eric and schedule a consultation for pediatric care today! You can also find Dr. Eric with some more info on child tantrums on Facebook: https://fb.watch/6VozJcbXUr/
References
https://www.understood.org/articles/en/why-does-my-child-still-have-temper-tantrums
