There's a reason they call them the terrible twos. For some reason, as they approach two years old, every child starts to change. They go from that lovely, peaceful child to an occasional screeching banshee you don't seem to recognize.
Tantrums seem to come out of nowhere, leaving even the most seasoned parents baffled. Your baby loses it; it doesn't matter where you are or who's around. The worst part is that the tantrum likely started over something trivial.
Whatever the reason for the tantrums, they are exhausting and stressful for you and your child. Your child, especially between the ages of one and three, is going through many changes mentally, and they do not know how to control their impulses or communicate their emotions yet.
It matters how you respond in these moments. While every part of you might want to throw your hands up in disbelief or join your toddler on the floor, it is essential to take these moments and help your child through them.
What Causes Toddler Temper Tantrums?
Some parents make the mistake of taking temper tantrums personally, and it can be difficult not to, especially when your toddler says things like, "I don't like you." Fortunately, you can take the insults and verbal jabs with a grain of salt because the statements are impulsive.
Children throw temper tantrums when you tell them "no" or ask them to stop doing something they enjoy. To them, you are asking them to stop doing their favorite thing forever instead of asking them to take a break.
Toddlers are very independent. Despite knowing nothing, they feel like they know everything. Teach a child a few words and how to stand on their own, and suddenly they become the next Einstein.
Unfortunately, because your child is still developing emotionally and intellectually, they still do not have the best verbal skills and struggle to communicate their feelings, which is frustrating. The lack of terms to express their feelings leads to outbursts or tantrums.
Ways To Avoid Them
The answer to avoiding temper tantrums is simple: just let your toddler have whatever, right? No. To prevent tantrums, connect with your child before cutting their connection to whatever they are focused on.
For instance, if they play with a toy and it is time for dinner, you do not want to pull them from their activity to eat immediately. Instead, you want to get down on their level, acknowledge what they are doing and how fun it is, and then tell them it is time to eat.
This is not a foolproof strategy, and you will still get pushback, but you are creating deeper connections with your child. They see that you are making an effort to understand them. When you acknowledge their feelings, you enter into a conversation. Suddenly, they do not view you as the enemy. You are just mommy or daddy and trying to take care of them.
How To Handle a Toddler Temper Tantrum Already in Progress
When dealing with a temper tantrum at home, it is best to let your child go through their feelings. There is nothing you can do other than have patience and compassion.
You might need to interrupt the tantrum to bring your child to a safe place when out in public. Accepting that your child has feelings that need to be expressed is essential, but you also need to respect others.
Temper tantrums can feel personal or manipulative, but they aren't. Your child has emotions they need to express but don't have the words to do so. Your only job as a parent is to provide a safe place and provide for your child. Wellements can help with its line of organic supplements for needs beyond emotional.