Toddler Temper Tantrums
And How To Avoid Them

Toddler temper tantrums are a nightmare for most parents, if you haven't experienced one yet,then you're in for a 'wild time'! Some toddlers will experience more tantrums than others and for some a toddler tantrum will be a very rare occurrence. Learning to turn the situation around will save you a lot of heartache in the future.

When your sweetheart is kicking and screaming because you said 'No' to the big bag of sweets that she was desperate for. And all of the other people in the shop are staring because they either don't have children, or they've totally forgotten that once upon a time their children did exactly the same! How are you going to deal with this toddler tantrum?

Apart from wishing the ground would open up and swallow you, what else can you do?

Toddler temper tantrums - Why oh why?

When your toddler wants something or doesn't want something, whichever the case may be, and you are telling her exactly the opposite to what she wants to hear, anger will start to take it's grip on her. Some toddlers will work themselves up into such a rage, that they won't even know what they're doing.

If your toddler is lashing out, and could actually cause damage to herself or others around her, it may be a good idea to hold her firmly in your arms until she calms down a little.

For some toddlers the concept of you holding them while they're having a tantrum may just create further rage, if this is the case then leave her be, but stay close by to make sure that she doesn't hurt herself in the process.

Toddler temper tantrums - Avoiding the situation

So here are a few tips on avoiding toddler temper tantrums.

• If your toddler always wants sweets at the supermarket, try shopping well before, or just after mealtimes. If you do decide to buy her sweets, limit her intake (this way she will learn about compromise, "I will buy sweets, but you are not going to eat the whole packet")

• Don't want to get the lego out just before bedtime? Then make sure it's well out of the way to start with. Sometimes your child may just want something because its in view. If they can't see it, they probably won't want it!

• Ignore the situation. If you're in a safe place to do so, just walking away from your toddler can quickly diffuse the situation. When she knows that Mum just isn't interested then it isn't worth her kicking off about it!

• Every parent should learn some distraction techniques. If you're on your way back from shopping and your little angel decides that if she can't go to the park then she is going to throw a fit, distract her! "hey look, is that Grandma that just walked up our garden path" or "Oh wow, did you see that squirrel just run up that tree over there" The fact that Grandma isn't there when she gets home can be quickly sorted by a quick phone call, "Oh it wasn't grandma, but shall we just ring to see how she is?"

• Your toddler is starting to get independent now, she will want to try and do many things herself. Getting dressed or brushing her own hair can all be easy and tantrum free if you give her a little extra time to do things.

• If you're toddler is tired, she may be more prone to toddler tantrums. Make sure she gets enough quality sleep at night, or maybe a nap during the day.

• One last thing to keep in mind, whatever has caused the toddler tantrum, you really shouldn't give into the problem, whether it be during or after the fact. If you do, you are just telling your child " hey it's OK, next time you have a tantrum, I'm going to let you get your own way!"

Most parents will eventually find their own way to deal with toddler temper tantrums, just remember not to argue back with your child, this will only make things worse.

As your child gets older and learns to display her emotions better, she will learn that talking to you is far better than shouting and screaming at you. She will outgrow these tantrums, at the minute that stage may feel a hundred miles away, but it will happen.

One more thing, after your child has had a tantrum, give her a cuddle. She's still your baby and she may be really upset by what just happened, this is the only way she knows to express her feelings.... for now!

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