A lot of parenting is trial and error. I learn the most, not by reading books, but by figuring out what works and what doesn't with my little DS.
The one issue every parent of a toddler can identify with is temper tantrums. They're those awful few minutes where you child acts as if the world is coming to an end. Parents really earn their stripes by dealing with tantrums on a daily basis.
The Cause Of The Tantrum
Most of the time, this can be easy to figure out. With my own son, it's when he can't have something he wants or we take something away from him. He'll even throw tantrums when we're about to leave somewhere he wants to stay (like coming inside after playing outside).
Sometimes, however, there are tantrums with no identifiable cause. They just come out of nowhere. These are the toughest to deal with because they are the most frustrating for a parent.
I've figured out one reason for these tantrums-out-of-nowhere:
Boredom!
Toddlers are people too and they get bored, just like the rest of us. When we get bored we get fidgety and restless. We'll seek out something to end our boredom like watching television or surfing the internet (for example).
A toddler can't communicate what he or she wants very easily. So they get frustrated, which leads to a temper tantrum.
When my son is throwing a tantrum and there is no obvious reason why, I get on the floor and start playing with some of his toys. 9 times out 10 it's enough to stop his crying and he'll come over to play with me. He was just bored.
The next time your toddler is throwing a temper tantrum try playing with him or her. It's a simple, but very effective way of calming them down while keeping your own sanity.
Great advice! Toddlers do get easily bored. Their attention span is about 20 mins. max on any give little project. Having a variety of toys, activities and food will keep any toddler happy. However, anytime they want something or want to do something and the parent says "no", here comes the tears or just the tantrum or both together. Weathering through those little bursts of negative actions takes a lot of patience.
ReplyDeleteGreat advice! Toddlers have the attention span of about 20 mins. for any given project or story. Having a variety of activities and toys helps to keep the busy little bees. However, when "no" is said to them the tears may roll, the fits ball up and the screams may come. Weathering through this short time in their lives takes a lot of patience. Hang in there!
ReplyDeleteVery good advice! Toddlers are wanting their own way. They are expressing their desire for a slice of independence when they tighten their fists and cry or scream when you say "no" or "stop". Hang in there, this will pass and before you know it the tantrums will fade. Being patient, redirecting their actions and keeping them active is hard but will pay off in the future.
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