The terrible twos, threes and fours can come with temper tantrums. If you have a toddler at home, then you have probably experienced tantrums, if not full-on meltdowns by your child. Temper tantrums and misbehaving mostly occur when your toddler is frustrated from not being able to communicate what she wants to do and has trouble understanding why she isn’t being allowed. Communicating with your toddler takes a special touch, but the effort can lead to a better behaved child.
Step 1
Identify the cause of the tantrum; you can’t solve the problem if you do not know what the problem is. Are you at the hair salon and your child is bored? Is it past her naptime and she’s tired? Does she need a snack? Notice the different times and circumstances that your child tends to act out and you will probably start to see a pattern in her behavior.
Step 2
Anticipate the tantrum before it becomes out of control and a full outburst. Most kids build up to a full-on tantrum and express it through certain behaviors, such as becoming tired, frustrated or a growing level of agitation. Address the issue during the first signs rather than the last.
Step 3
Communicate with your child in a way that she will understand. Do not try to reason or be logical with a two-year-old, it will only frustrate her more because she will not be able to process what you are saying. Speak in a soft, soothing voice using simple words and phrases.
Step 4
Stroke your child’s hair, rub the tears off her face and gently rub her back as forms of affection and to let your daughter know that you are there for her. She may try to push away from a hug as a sign of rebellion, but you might want to give it a try anyway. Let her know that despite misconduct, you do still love her, which may help to calm her down.
Step 5
Redirect your child's attention by offering her an alternative choice to whatever it was that set her off. For example, if she is upset over not being allowed to have candy, offer her a piece of fresh or dried fruit. Set a time limit for shopping, then engage in an activity that interests her as well.
