Parents are learning how to avoid tantrums altogether.
Instead of waiting to do something about the tantrum until after it’s already started, there are lots of things you can do ahead of time to prevent them from happening at all, and to reduce the likelihood of them happening.
Tantrums often happen because something happens that your toddler isn’t expecting.
They thought things were going to go one way…
And then your child realized that they weren’t going to go that way at all.
That’s when the tantrum starts. They’re frustrated, surprised and don’t like that things have suddenly not gone their way.
Parenting expert, Elizabeth Pantley suggets…
Give Fair Warning:
You can help your children change activities by giving them time to process the change mentally before they follow through physically. Prior to expecting action from your children, call out a five minute alert, then a three minute alert and finally a one minute alert. This forewarning can prevent a meltdown that can occur with a sudden, surprising announcement.
Transition times can be challenging for your little one, so by giving them fair warning (maybe even by using a timer that they can see and hear) they’ll have more time to adjust to the changes that are coming.
The power of offering choices:
How this works is simple. Replace direct commands, such as, “Put on your pjs right now,” (which often triggers a battle) with a choice that propels your child forward, such as, “What do you want to do first, put on your pjs or brush your teeth?” or “Do you want to hop to the bathroom like a bunny or crawl like a puppy?”
I love this tip because as the parent you still know that bedtime preparation is going to happen, but your kids also get to feel like they’re somewhat in control of how it all happens.
Yes, they’re still going to get ready for bed, but does it really matter, in the grand scheme of things, which order they brush their teeth or get their PJs on in?
By giving your toddler choices about things that don’t really matter to you, everyone wins.
More Parenting Advice: What do you like to do with your toddlers to prevent tantrums? Share your tips in the comments sections below to help other parents…
Tame Those Tantrums Before They Begin [SuperNanny]
