One Overlooked Cause Of Temper Tantrums

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.

Brad's Quick Parenting Tip #75: Keeping Toddler Awake In Car

I cherish my son's nap time. It's a few hours a day I can have to myself. It also means he won't be cranky in the evening before bed.

But his naps are a delicate thing. It doesn't take much to throw him off schedule, to the point where he won't take a nap at all.

For instance, when we go out and do something in the morning, where he's getting a lot of exercise, he sometimes falls asleep in the car on the way home. And if it's close to lunchtime (noon-ish) I can count on him not taking a nap that afternoon. He just won't be tired enough to fall asleep.

So I've figured out a surefire way to keep him awake in the car: His snack cup, sippy cup, and a toy or two. These three things will keep him occupied and awake. Never fails.

I've talked about the snack cup before in an earlier post. They can be lifesavers.

I try my best to keep his schedule consistant, which is why I can count on his nap times to be my break every day.

How do you keep your little one awake?

The "Sharing vs. Not Taking" Toy Dilemma

One of the fun things about letting my DS play with other kids is watching how they interact. Toddlers don't really play with each other, they play next to each other.

There's something I've noticed with parents too. It's the "sharing vs. not taking" toys dilemma. It goes something like this:

My son is playing with a toy. Another toddler comes up wanting to play with the toy and starts to grab at it. I tell my son to share, while the parent of the other child says to not grab and wait his/her turn. It's a no-win situation for the kids.

Every parent wants their child to learn good manners and to play well with others. Yet you have these opposing forces - to learn to share, and to learn not to take things.

Usually these situations end in a toss-up. The kid with the toy relents (usually at the urging of their parent) and the other kid gets the toy.

I still find it awkward. How do you handle this dilemma? I'd love to hear your answers.

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There's No Business Like Monkey Bizness

Today I took my son to Monkey Bizness, a place for little kids to run and play around. They have different types of indoor playground equipment, including a huge jumping castle with slides and other fun things inside.

My DS isn't even two yet but he holds his own among the bigger kids (3-5). I still followed him around, just in case, but I didn't stick on him like glue like I used too. He's becoming very independent.

Monkey Bizness is a good place to go if the weather is bad, or you just want to let your kids blow off some steam for a while. They also have an arts and crafts room and a room you can rent out for parties.

For parents, there is an area with tables and chairs. You can buy some little snacks and drinks at the front desk, but if you want a full meal, you're on your own.

Overall it's a good spot if you want to kill some time without dragging your kid/s through the mall or visit your local Target store for the 10th time that day.

Disclaimer: I'm not affiliated with Monkey Bizness in any way and I'm not being compensated for this post. It is my personal, unbiased opinion.