Dealing with
Temper Tantrums
What are Temper Tantrums?
Reasons why a child
exhibits temper tantrums
How to prevent tantrums
What to do when tantrums
begin
What not to do
What are Temper Tantrums?
- Violent outbursts of anger manifested by screaming, breaking things,
rolling on the floor, whining, holding breath, kicking or hitting.
- Starts in children as young as 18 months.Common in children from ages
2 to 4 years old.
Reasons why child exhibits
temper tantrums
- Angry, frustrated because unable to get what he wants
- Wants to get what he wants
- Wants to gain attention
- Learns behaviour from impatient, quick-tempered parents
- Is tired, hungry or easily irritable
How to prevent tantrums
- Meet child’s physical needs
- Be an example in handling your own anger (Lord, change me so that my
child will change!)
- Avoid excessive demands or restrictions
- Encourage verbalisation of feelings correctly
- Give adequate attention
- Catch your child doing good
What to do when tantrums
begin
- Be calm and ignore the tantrum.Put child in time-out area.
- In public place, take child home or to a place where he will receive
little attention.
- Physically restrain child if needed
- Introduce reward system for every 2 hours of non-tantrums
- Teach verbalisation of anger.
What not to do
- Try to reason or explain why he cannot have his way. Child is not receptive
at this time.
- Punish, criticise, threaten, shame or shout. You are getting yourself
into a power struggle and teaching a negative way to resolve problems.
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