Characterized by emotional outbursts and violent expressions of frustration, tantrums are a natural part of a child's developmental process, and common tantrums often unfold as impassioned protests accompanied by inconsolable tears and unyielding resistance. . Tantrums are common as young children learn to express themselves and deal with their emotions.
Dr Anita Madan, Head of Curriculum Development at EuroKids, said in an interview with HT Lifestyle: Caregivers should consider tantrums to be a natural part of a child's development, beginning around 12 to 15 months of age and subsided by the time the child reaches her fourth year of age. However, dealing with tantrums requires thoughtful strategies, as common approaches such as using treats, bribing, and giving in are common. It is ineffective and provides no long-term relief. ”
She suggested some practical strategies parents can use when dealing with toddler tantrums.
- Foster positive conversations: Caregivers and parents should keep the conversation positive and normalized during tantrums. It is important to understand that tantrums are a form of communication for children who have difficulty expressing their emotions in words. Rather than viewing tantrums as personal attacks on parenting skills, parents should understand that young children often lack critical emotional management skills. Additionally, recognizing children's tantrums as a form of communication allows parents to teach effective communication and emotion management.
- Understanding the cause: Rather than just reacting to the surface of a tantrum, parents need to thoroughly understand the underlying triggers and ensure a compassionate response. Triggers are wide-ranging and include hunger, fatigue, frustration, overstimulation, lack of attention, and changes in daily routine. Recognizing these triggers can give parents insight into specific needs and challenges their child may be facing.
- Encourage open dialogue: Once triggers are identified, parents should respond with compassion and encourage effective communication. Depending on the age of the child, parents can teach the child other ways to express emotions so that the child can communicate his or her feelings without resorting to tantrums. It is important not to rely on practices such as bribery, physical discipline, or giving in immediately to the child's demands.
- Close cooperation with teachers/kindergartens: It's also important to have open communication channels with teachers, especially during critical transition periods like the first few weeks of preschool. Schools should prioritize personal conversations with parents to address emerging tantrums and behavioral changes in the new social environment.
- Create a calm environment: Establishing a calm environment at home can have a huge impact on a young child's mental health. It is important to create an atmosphere of gentle guidance without raising your voice or raising your hand. Limiting exposure to overly stimulating situations, maintaining a consistent daily routine, and ensuring adequate rest can help infants have a more stable emotional state. Creating a peaceful atmosphere in the home provides a foundation of support for managing and preventing tantrums.
Dr Anita Madan added: Parents must be patient and reinforce positive behavior with praise, establish routines, teach emotional language, and introduce coping skills. These strategies can help parents overcome toddler tantrums by showing empathy, understanding, and focusing on promoting healthy emotional development in their children. ”
Mr. Vijay Kumar Agarwal, CEO and Co-Founder, Makoons Group of Schools said: When a surprising outburst of strong emotions occurs, mom and dad are embarrassed and exhausted. But by understanding and following the precise steps, you can turn this difficult time into a huge opportunity for growth and connection. ” He recommended –
1. Empathic understanding: Tantrums are often caused by inflammation and a lack of proper communication skills. Your first step as a parent is to deal with the situation with empathy. Be aware of your baby's feelings, even if you can't address their immediate needs. A simple statement such as “You seem disillusioned” recognizes their feelings and fosters knowledge.
2. Stay calm and consistent: Moms and dads must remain calm during emotional outbursts. Your emotional situation influences your baby's behavior. Maintain consistency in your responses by setting clear boundaries and expectations. Consistency is beneficial for young children because it provides an experience of balance and allows them to learn about motives and effects.
3. Distraction and reorientation: Changing your mood at the right time can have surprising effects. Provide some entertainment in exchange or get them interested in something shiny. Changing the direction of their forces can help divert their attention from the cause of the aggravation and allow them to relax.
4. Establish routine and predictability. Young children thrive on predictability and routine. Keeping a consistent daily plan reduces tension and reduces the risk of tantrums. When young children are aware of what to expect, they learn to manage their surroundings.
5. Teach emotional intelligence: Use tantrums as opportunities to teach emotional intelligence. Help your child understand and express his or her feelings aloud. Simple sentences like “It's okay to be angry, but please tell me about it” promote emotional attention and the development of verbal exchange skills.
6. Praise positive behavior: Positive reinforcement is effective. Celebrate when your toddler expresses her feelings lightly or manages her discomfort effectively. This motivates young people to interact with great behavior and promotes the recognition that verbal interaction is essential.
Vijay Kumar Agarwal says, “Tantrums are common in early childhood, but with the right strategies, they can be turned into manageable master reports. Treating tantrums may also provide a supportive environment that allows babies to modify their emotions and develop important talents in life. , remember that we can learn and grow together.”
Equally leveraging her expertise, Dr. Aakanksha Gupta, Vice President (Media and Communications), SK Education, said, “We are proud to be a part of the 2018-2020 Educational Initiative. Rather, they are considered to be something that must be expected and are necessarily essential to early childhood. These tantrums and meltdowns are difficult to deal with, but such behavior on the child's part is less a deliberate act to test his or her own abilities than a deliberate act to test his or her abilities, especially due to overwhelming emotions. It is important to understand that it reflects the child's struggle to get through. The patience of the caretaker. ”
She advised some effective strategies for dealing with tantrums and meltdowns in children.
- admit: Recognizing that children are going through a tumultuous time due to their newly acquired linguistic and emotional abilities is the first step in dealing with meltdowns in children. Parents need to be patient and empathetic during the process, as children's inability to communicate their difficult emotions is often very real and all too excruciating.
- connect: The second step is to communicate and help children communicate. In this way, caregivers can not only encourage language development but also relieve the overwhelming emotions that children may be feeling. In situations like this, it is also important to give children a sense of control, and offering reasonable options can be very helpful in that regard.
- Set boundaries: Setting clear boundaries can help minimize tantrum triggers. Additionally, daily routine and consistency can help create a stable environment for your child that allows for emotional regulation. Therefore, when dealing with toddler meltdowns, you should keep in mind the importance of setting clear boundaries and creating a consistent routine.
- Stay calm: When parents take a step back from their children's tantrums and meltdowns and remain calm, they are paved the way to effectively resolve the issue at hand. This is because a calm demeanor reassures children that their feelings are understood, which in turn helps them manage overwhelming and difficult emotions.
- Prioritize self-care: If managers do not prioritize self-care, it will be impossible to follow the steps and strategies listed above. A child's tantrums and meltdowns are always emotionally taxing, so parents need to make sure they are taking care of themselves as much as they are taking care of their children.
Dr. Aakanksha Gupta says, “With awareness, communication, boundaries, calm, and self-care, toddler tantrums and meltdowns can be effectively managed.” Incorporate these steps into your management strategy. It is the responsibility of parents to develop their children's social-emotional intelligence. ”
According to Anamika Dasgupta, director of Wonder School and founder of Potter's Earth Foundation and Center for Educational Research, parenting is the only job that is available 24/7, and bosses are the ones who think broccoli is the enemy. is. “Toddler tantrums, unpredictable emotional outbursts, can make even the most experienced parents question their own sanity. Fear not! Here's a guide to simple but solid parenting, ancient Indian wisdom, and a touch of irony. Here's a crash course in tantrum control mixed with humor.
- First of all, what is the secret to this “easy but solid” way to raise children? Imagine yourself as a gentle guide, a modern-day Maharishi of meltdowns, guiding a tiny human through the turbulent waters of extreme emotion. Embrace the ancient concept of “Sthirata” – tranquility and balance. Set boundaries with a smile (and successfully hide your inner frown) and find the sweet spot between pushover and dictator. Tell yourself – I’m more than just a parent. I'm a little chaos zen master.
- Your toddler may remind you of a stubborn pet who constantly tests boundaries, but that's far from the way you should react. They are not fluffy creatures that respond to treats or commands. Treat them as “baraks” – little people with opinions. Join the conversation, even if it's about why socks are the enemy. They have an opinion too, and acknowledging that little voice can do wonders.
- When a tantrum storm hits, take a deep breath. Your calm will be a lighthouse to guide your little one through the storm. Remember, it's okay to not have all the answers. Sometimes being a compassionate witness, or sakshi bhava, is the ancient wisdom we need. After all, the ancient sages had no timeouts, but they certainly knew how to find peace in chaos.
- Now let's consider the elephant in the room: the pressure on parents to be perfect. Don't turn parenting into a high-stakes game with an elusive “right” style. Trust your instincts and embrace the messy, imperfect beauty of your journey. Remember, there is no universal manual. It's more like a choose-your-own-adventure book. Weave a tapestry of love, humor, and ancient wisdom in the grand dance of parenting. Embrace the chaos, laugh at your broccoli battles, and remember that there is no one-size-fits-all manual. Parenting is a choose-your-own adventure, and your unique journey is the real treasure. So, go ahead and dance through the chaos, laugh at the broccoli fights, and know that every failure brings you one step closer to mastering the art of taming toddlers.
