Search Results for: blog tips for dealing with temper tantrums

The “Two Minute Warning” Might Make Tantrums Worse

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It has been said that the “two minute warning” is a good way to help a young child transition from playtime to another (less fun) activity. A study found that the “two minute warning” might actually make tantrums worse for some children – especially if the child was engaged in screen time. Researchers at the University of Washington’s Computing for Health Living & Learning Lab interviewed 27 families about how they manage media and screen time experiences for their toddlers and preschoolers. The answers to those questions informed a diary study that included 28 different families. Each family documented screen … Continue reading →

Taming Tantrums Part 2

You read yesterday about some tips to alleviate some of the common causes of temper tantrums. Today we’ll talk about some more tricks to make everybody’s lives a little easier. Nobody likes to go to the doctor. Your kids are no different. They may feel some anxiety about having to get shots every time they show up at the doctor’s office. Try to be empathetic. Shots are no fun and can be frightening for kids. Let them know that it’s ok to be scared, but that it’s important to get shots so that they don’t get sick. Try giving them … Continue reading →

Those Early Temper Tantrums

When someone laments about the “terrible twos” or those trying toddler years, they are usually referring to temper tantrums. Somewhere around a year old or 18 months, otherwise sweet and bubbly children can start to throw temper tantrums. Is there anything at all that can be done to minimize those early temper tantrums or at least learn to cope? Young children have tantrums for all sorts of reasons–they are frustrated at not being able to communicate and get what they want, they are tired, sick, trying to figuring out where they stand in the world and how they can make … Continue reading →

Tips for Dealing with Temper Tantrums

Tantrums – Screams and crying oh my As a single parent, sometimes the challenges of dealing with babies and toddlers can be stressful, especially when it comes to temper tantrums. Of course, if you have children like mine, the best time for a tantrum is in the middle of the grocery store when your cart is near full. I actually had my son do that one time when he was about four. I told him twice that if he didn’t behave, we would leave. He refused so I asked the manager if he would put my shopping cart in the … Continue reading →

Ways to Prevent a Toddler Tantrum Before it Happens

Toddlers are known for having the ability to change their mood – from happy to extremely upset – within seconds. This can be very stressful for parents, especially if the “meltdown” happens in public. Fortunately, there are some things parents can do to prevent a toddler tantrum before it happens. Watch for Warning Signs Pay close attention to your toddler’s body language. Has he suddenly become extra grumpy, or more whiny than usual? Is she playing, but taking lots of breaks to lie down on the floor? Has your toddler started throwing their books, toys or food? These are some … Continue reading →

A Child’s Emotional Explosions

There are power struggles, temper tantrums, and then there are those incredible emotional outbursts that our young children have. I actually think of them as explosions. It has been my experience that they happen with toddler and preschoolers and then return with full force during the adolescent years. How can a parent help to temper those emotional explosions and can anything be done to help a child find other ways to express himself? These grand emotional explosions can be scary and they seem decidedly different from a power struggle or a manipulative tantrum. I always found that it seemed as … Continue reading →

Your Toddler and the New Baby

Many of you already may know that my children are all two years apart. They are almost exactly two years apart and so for four babies now, I’ve had a reigning two year old with a newborn (or two). Recently, there have been several family members in the forums who have asked about toddler behavior and the new baby and so I thought I would summarize some thoughts in a blog. If you want to discuss specific problems, please feel free to visit this thread to get support from other mommies. That Whole Terrible Two Thing I have written quite … Continue reading →

What NOT to do When Your Toddler Refuses to Move

Have you ever been in public and your sweet angelic child ends up throwing the temper tantrum to end all temper tantrums? She screams, she yells, and she refuses to get up? My twins have an advantage because I can really only pick up one at a time–and they know it. But I saw something curious yesterday–I’ve actually seen parents do this before–but for some reason it struck me as especially illogical yesterday. Amazingly, my twins were well behaved yesterday on our outing. But some other mother was having one hard time with her baby who I am guessing to … Continue reading →

Things Getting a Bit Heated? Learn to Diffuse, NOT Inflame

Imagine you’re a fire fighter, rushing to the scene of a blaze that has just broken out at a residence. You run up onto the scene, and start screaming, “Another fire! I hate fires! Why are there always fires? This is so aggravating!” In the meantime, the kitchen cabinets in the house are now burning more intensely. “I always have to deal with these blazes, and it’s driving me crazy!” you shout. Then you pull from your bag a flask of gasoline, dousing the fire with it. As the flames rage higher, you say, “Quit burning! I mean it! I … Continue reading →

Build Grouchy Time Into Your Toddler’s Day

If you have a toddler you are probably all too familiar with the temper tantrum. You may also have a child who insists on throwing a tantrum at the most inopportune time, say for instance in the morning while you are trying to get the kid off to daycare or preschool and yourself off to work. What can you do to make sure you’re not rushing everyday? Parenting expert and columnist John Redmond offered this advice to a mother who was at her wits end about how to handle the daily early morning tantrums her daughter was throwing. The mother … Continue reading →