Sunday

Temper Tantrums Part 2


If you have kids you have probably experienced a temper tantrum. You don't even have to have kids. If you have ever been in a store where there are children, you have probably seen a temper tantrum. Sometimes it doesn't matter how hard we try to prevent or prepare, tantrums happen. So what do you do when you are in the middle of Super Target and all heck breaks loose. Not that I know what that is like. All heck breaking loose in Super Target. Wink Wink.

During a Tantrum, what should you do? 

  • Stay Calm: Do not loose your cool. Refrain from spanking, yelling, or raising your voice. It will only make things worse. If you feel like you are going to loose your cool, leave the room, or if you are in public, turn away from your child and take a deep breath. 
  • Don't try to Reason: During a tantrum is not the right time to try and reason with children. They are not capable of listening or understanding when they are screaming and yelling. There will be plenty of time to discuss what has happened. Avoid bribery also. It usually makes the situation worse, and sets you up for trouble in the future. 
  • Pay No Attention: When the tantrum starts, ignore it. Don't give in, don't pay attention, turn your eyes away and keep words to yourself. Remember, attention for negative behavior is still attention. Don't pay any attention. If you give your child attention for the tantrum, or if you give in to what they want, they will keep throwing temper tantrums. 
  • Time to Go: If your child is throwing a tantrum and it is hurting other kids, or you, very disruptive, or destroying things, leave. If you are at home take the child to another room. If you are in public, leave. This is really hard to do. Especially if your grocery cart is full. The last thing you want to do is leave a full cart to take a screaming child home. Be strong and do it any way. I learned this the hard way. My daughter threw a fit in a grocery store when she was younger. I said, "if you don't stop I am going to take you home, we will leave." I threatened but never followed through. The next time she threw a fit, I said the same thing and she said, "you said that last time, but we didn't leave." Ouch. And I teach this stuff. I realized that I was not practicing what I preach. I was too concerned about leaving my cart, and the people around me in the store. I immediately pushed the cart to the front of the store, picked her up, and headed to the car. She couldn't believe it. I had to go back late that night and start over with my grocery list. It didn't matter. She never threw a fit like that again. All because I followed through.
  • Ignore Everyone: Tantrums are embarrassing in public. Oh Well. Every parent has had a kid throw a fit. Don't worry about the people around you. Worry about your child, and ignore the stares. 
  • Be Consistent: You have to stay strong and consistent. If you give in, kids will throw tantrums again. Hold your ground, every time. 

After a Tantrum.
  1. Keep Cool. After a tantrum everyone is stressed and drained. Flustered. Forget about a long lecture or comments like, "That was embarrassing", " or " I can't believe that you would act like that." There will be time later to talk about things. 
  2. Assess the Situation: Can you pin point why the tantrum happened. Think through the situation and see if you can identify what happened and what triggered the response. This knowledge is very valuable and will help you avoid future outbursts. 
  3. Hold yourself Accountable: It is not just about the kids. How did you respond? Did you stay calm? Where you consistent? 
  4. Don't withhold love: Sometimes after a tantrum ends, parents don't feel like hugging and cuddling. They are embarrassed, want to lecture and give a little of the cold shoulder. If a child in distress, or after distress wants a hug, give it to them. They are upset also. Tantrums are traumatic for kids. Withholding love will damage your relationship. The same relationship you are trying to build and strengthen. 
  5. Follow Through: If you gave a warning or threatened a consequence, follow through. You have to. Just like I mentioned with our daughter, (threatening to leave the store), we have to follow through. Don't underestimate kids. They know and understand, and will play the system. They know if we are parents who don't follow through. 
Don't loose hope or think that if you have already given in to tantrums that all hope is lost. It is not. Kids are quick learners. Parents are also. Start at the beginning, hold your ground and be consistent. As your behavior changes, your child's will follow suit. 

Anyone else ever walked out of a store and left a full shopping cart behind?
Do you think tantrums are harder on the kids or the parents?

Family Volley




8 comments:

  1. I think the tantrums are harder on the kids when they are younger, because they don't fully know how to express themselves. But, it is also difficult to keep your cool and not meltdown in anger yourself. I guess we wind up having a tantrum of our own trying to control theirs.

    It definitely stinks though, when I give a warning and my kid is fine with it. I realize that when this happens he is just like I was, and I was a punk:)

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  2. I think harder on the kid. They are out of control and often don't know why or what to do.
    My dad left a store once with my sister who was having a tantrum, and someone thought he was kidnapping her and called the police.
    Tantrums provide great memories.

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  3. Totally harder on the parents! LOL My friend - at ward park day - once threatened that they would go home if her son didn't stop. He didn't stop and they had to leave - as she walked away she whined, "I don't want to go home." :)

    Thanks for the write up - I appreciate the help. One more question - how do you ignore if you're at a birthday party or the store? Is that a situation you should leave or is ok to move the child to another room and then ignore?

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  4. what about babies? my 5 month old started throwing terrifying fits after his 2 month shots. he is, for the most part, a sweet and content baby. however, when he gets hungry or tired he pitches fits from hell. seriously, people have told me that they have never heard such noise from a baby before. since i started stuffing him to the brim at every feeding, the intensity of his episodes has subsided. i feel i should cater to his every whim because he is a little baby. i'm just worried that he will carry on these fits to other aspects of our lives as he gets older. i'm not sure what to do.

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  5. I've heard it said that you cannot spoil a baby. Dr sears says Spoiling is what happens when you leave something on the shelf- forgetting about it. Tending you your baby's every need not only doesn't spoil them but has the opposite effect - they learn to trust and feel loved and will grow to be more independent. It sounds like your little one is just trying to communicate. Good luck mama!

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Hi Hi! It always makes my day to hear what you have to say. Let's keep this conversation going. Thank you for your comments. Don't want to leave a comment here, email me at blog.familyvolley@gmail.com.

 
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