As a parent, nothing is more embarrassing than taking your toddler out of your home, only for them to act like a crazed baboon. The last time we took my nephew to a restaurant was last October, and he threw the most ridiculous tantrum ever. Needless to say, we’re waiting for him to get a little older and learn some more manners before doing that again. The best way to stop a tantrum in public is by cutting back on them in private. If your kid doesn’t throw fits in your house, they won’t do it at the store. So, how do you stop tantrums before they even begin? Check out this post by Vicky at Mess For Less for tips:
-Distraction- Say “I’ve got something to show you!” It will stop the tears and make them forget why they were upset.
-Count to three- if they don’t stop crying by the time you get to three, they go to time out.
-Remove an item or privilege if they don’t stop
-Take deep breaths with them, give them a hug.
-Last ditch option: walk away and let them cry it out in their room.
Tantrums are a normal part of growing up, and every kid has them. You need to remember that you are not a horrible parent if your child is acting out; they are just learning how to express themselves (or they are just trying to get attention). By modeling the correct reactions to disappointment and showing them that tantrums are unacceptable, they will learn that screaming and crying gets them nowhere.
