8 Tips For Dealing With A Toddler Tantrum

The most common parenting challenge with young ones is their toddler tantrums.

It’s inevitable for a toddler to throw a tantrum.

It can be difficult when dealing with a toddler tantrum.

Their behavior is irrational, and all you want to do is try to keep your cool while mentally pulling out your own hair.

According to the dictionary, a tantrum is an angry outburst in reaction to something that didn’t go their way.

Tantrums can be loud, and can even be violent. Kicking, crying, and screaming can all be involved in a tantrum and toddlers can sometimes be inconsolable.

A number of things can trigger a tantrum, such as wanting to be outside or not getting what they want at the store.

My child has tantrums just for being told to get out from in front of the TV — insert eye roll here.

Toddlers have tantrums for a number of reasons, including being tired, hungry, or just because they’re over-emotional.

Toddlers usually can’t express in words how they feel, so a tantrum is their way of letting these emotions out.

So how do you deal with a toddler tantrum?

Ignore them

You read that right. Ignore them. Sometimes your toddler will throw a tantrum just to get what they want.

When you ignore them, their tantrums usually fizzle out fairly quickly.

2. Show them empathy

To put it simply, a toddler tantrum is an emotional explosion.

If your toddler is throwing a tantrum and all they hear from you is to “calm down”, it will more than likely make it worse.

Make your toddler understand that you know what they want, and why you won’t allow it.

Say something to your child such as “I see that you are upset” to let them know you understand.

3. Use a distraction

When a toddler is in the middle of a tantrum, there is no reasoning with them as they have trouble getting ahold of their big emotions.

Present them with something else, such as a new toy, a song they love, or a new activity.

It may distract them from what they were originally so upset about and they will eventually calm down.

4. Stay calm

Staying calm during a toddler tantrum is probably the hardest thing we can do. But it’s important to control your emotions as well.

If you get angry and start yelling while your toddler is throwing a tantrum, you are just showing them that it’s okay to lose their cool when things don’t go their way.

Staying calm teaches them how to face difficult situations without losing control of their emotions.

Emotions are contagious, so stay calm and acknowledge their frustration while keeping your boundaries.

5. Don’t punish them

Punishing your toddler during a tantrum will only escalate things and make it worse.

Punishment leads to bad emotions, and your child may feel like they’re a bad person.

Punishing your toddler during a tantrum — yes, even time-outs — can create a wall of misunderstanding and hidden aggressiveness between you and your toddler.

This will make both parties unhappy, and that simply doesn’t belong in a loving relationship.

6. Keep their comforts nearby

All kids have one or two things that give them comfort. This comfort can be anything from a binky to a blanket.

Make sure you know exactly where these comfort items are so you can easily grab them when a tantrum starts.

By giving your child their comfort item, it can usually help calm them down almost immediately.

7. Get down to their level

Your child will not feel safe nor will they change their behavior if you are talking down to them.

Get down on their level to be face to face with them and try to talk to them or distract them.

8. Don’t give in

If your child is throwing a tantrum because he wanted the Hot Wheels car he saw in the check-out line, don’t give in.

Giving in and giving them what they want will only teach them that all they have to do is throw a fit to get what they want.

A toddler’s behavior can sometimes be totally irrational, leading to a tantrum.

They can always be frustrating and stressful, but hopefully, these tips will help you as a parent to handle these tantrums with ease!

This post was originally written by me on Plaid and Burlap Home.