Dealing with toddler tantrums can be really tough for us as parents. Our little ones are still figuring out how to manage their emotions and express their feelings, so their outbursts can seem completely irrational to us. But as frustrating as these tantrums are, there are ways we can respond more calmly and positively, instead of reacting quickly and negatively
5 Tips
If you’re finding it hard to handle your toddler’s big emotions, here are 5 tips to keep in mind during their next tantrum:
- It’s Not About You: Your child’s behavior isn’t a reflection on you or your parenting. They’re just learning.
- Pause and Breathe: Take a deep breath and pause during these challenging moments. This gives you a moment to understand your child’s behavior and respond calmly instead of reacting.
- Skip the Lecture: As tempting as it is, save the teaching moment for later. Trying to teach your child during a tantrum will only make things worse.
- Be a Calming Presence: Your calm presence can help reduce your child’s stress. It might take a few seconds or minutes, but eventually, your calmness will help them settle down.
- Validate Their Feelings: This can be tough, but try to separate their feelings from their behavior. Say no to the kicking and screaming, but let them know it’s okay to feel upset.
By focusing on keeping ourselves calm and regulated, we can better help our children manage their emotions. Tantrums aren’t about being ‘naughty’; they’re part of learning. Sure, kids push our boundaries and test our patience, but these moments are opportunities to teach them and give them tools to do better in the future.
"As frustrating as tantrums are, there are things we can do so we’re better placed to respond positively and rationally, instead of reacting quickly and negatively."
Remember, it’s normal to feel frustrated and triggered, and we won’t always keep our cool—we’re human, after all. But by keeping these tips in mind, we can reduce the frustrations we feel during our toddler’s tantrums and handle them better.
