How to Deal With Tantrums Without Losing It

While browsing aisles in the grocery store, your toddler reaches out to snare a favorite snack. When you put it back on the shelf, the whole store learns of the problem when your tot erupts into a temper tantrum. These outbursts can be both an embarrassment to parents and a nuisance. Though you may feel ready to lose your cool, you have several strategies at your disposal to stay calm.

Instructions

    • 1

      Remind yourself that your child may be throwing a tantrum because she is upset or angry. Learning to empathize with her feelings may help you keep your cool, according to KidsHealth. Hugging your little one and speaking calmly may show that you not only understand her feelings but that you are also willing to comfort her.

    • 2

      Give your child a distraction to prevent or end a tantrum, according to KidsHealth. If a tantrum surfaces when you are going to the store, talk about some of the activities that you will do once you get home from the store.

    • 3

      Ignore the tantrum if it is not severe. Your little one may quickly tire out if he sees that he will not get his way, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. If the tantrum is severe or it occurs in a public place, leave as quickly as possible. Removing your child from the situation may not only soothe him, but help you avoid losing your temper as well.

    • 4

      Avoid giving into a tantrum. It may seem like the best and quickest route to restoring calm, but it can also promise and encourage more trouble in the future. If a child gets what she desires out of a tantrum, she will be more likely to repeat the behavior again, according to KidsHealth.

    • 5

      Talk calmly to your child. Getting angry may encourage a negative response from your little one. If the behavior continues, issuing a timeout may work. Whether the timeout occurs in a grocery store bathroom or in your toddler's bedroom at home, it can give your child the opportunity to cool down, according to Dr. William Sears. Ideally, timeouts should last about one minute per year of your child's life, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

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