Parenting is perhaps the hardest job in the world, and dealing with a toddler’s temper tantrums can be extremely challenging. A child who is screaming, whining and kicking requires a tremendous amount of patience as well as physical, mental, and emotional stability.
A tantrum is an episode of extreme and sudden emotional outburst from toddlers. Manifestation of such episodes can range from crying, whining and screaming to holding their breath, stomping, kicking and rolling. Throwing things and vomiting are not unheard of, either.
Temper tantrums are a normal phase among children between one and three years old. Parents or guardians should be equipped with the right knowledge and emotional preparedness to handle such situations.
Why do tantrums happen?
Toddlers, in their young age, are still acquiring and developing emotional, social and communication skills. They do not know how to convey their needs and wants effectively, and are not mature enough to understand the concept of compromise.
In short, children at this age have a fragile emotional stability and are incapable of thinking and responding rationally to a situation. Tantrums are, for better or for worse, a way for them to communicate.
There are many reasons a child might throw a tantrum. These include a wet diaper, sleepiness or tiredness, feeling unwell, or frustration.
It could also be that your child is hungry, or is scared of something or someone. Knowing these possible reasons will clue you in on what your child is trying to tell you.
What should you do?
When a tantrum happens, stay calm and keep yourself from feeling overwhelmed. Getting angry at your child will only worsen the situation, so maintain your cool while acknowledging your child’s emotions and possible reasons for the outburst.
It is important not to give in directly to your toddler’s demands. As a responsible parent, you must be able to clearly evaluate the situation and come up with a justified resolution with a firm but loving hand.
In most cases, the best approach is to wait it out. This will give your child the opportunity to self-soothe.
Being inconsistent will only put you and your child in a worse emotional state, so be absolute with your resolve. This will give the clear message to your child that a “no” is a “no”.
Read more articles by Dennis Relojo-Howell here.
Dennis Relojo-Howell is the managing director of Psychreg and host of ‘The DRH Show’. Connect with him on X at @dennisr_howell.