PARENTING
Tame Temper Tantrums
By Brenda Nixon
Guest Columnist
CBN.com –
Has your youngster ever thrown a temper tantrum? My child
tried this on me in a busy Kansas City mall! Imagine my embarrassment
and the challenge to discreetly handle this in public.
Every toddler, to whom independence is a passionate issue, will
attempt a tantrum. Different temperaments are more passionate
about it than others. Trouble is, if we don’t handle this
common – inappropriate - behavior skillfully it will continue.
Tantrums can become a child’s habit or pattern for getting
what they want. The future problem is; children whose tantrums
are tolerated and reinforced are most at risk for emotional problems
as adults.
All kids occasionally defy adults, test parents, say “No!”
and try to get their own way. When your youngster yells at you
or stomps his foot in anger, this is NOT a tantrum. This is a
typical tot behavior. It cannot be tolerated but it also cannot
be confused with a tantrum.
When he loses control of himself physically or verbally, that
is a tantrum. Tantrums also look like this: throwing himself on
the floor screaming and kicking or becoming red in the face and
screaming defiantly at the top of his lungs. Some children are
nearly irrational.
This explosive behavior usually begins between 12 and 24 months.
The first and best medicine - ignore it! Do not give eye contact;
talk to him; give in, or even try telling him to “Stop.”
Amuse yourself with another activity and ignore his nasty behavior.
At the moment he quiets or calms himself, make a comment on his
improved behavior. Something like, “Oh you’ve quit
crying. Now let’s read that book.” is sufficient.
Give attention only when he shows agreeable (calm) behavior. Then
redirect his attention to something else. You do not need to nag
about it, tell him that he embarrassed you, send him to time-out
for it, or anything. Most children will see a parent’s disappointed
look on their face and get the message.
“What?! You mean I don’t punish him for the tantrum?”
Nope. Research shows that punishing unwanted behavior is less
effective than rewarding the positive behavior you want to see.
Even though it sounds unusual it is skilled parenting to give
attention when your tot becomes self-controlled.
“But what do I do when my two or three year old still tantrums?”
parents often ask. This tells me that back at the beginning Mom
or Dad in some way reinforced the tantrum. Perhaps they stood
there looking at their child or interfered by trying to get him
to calm down. Any – any – attention to the child during
a tantrum is perceived by the child as attention.
It’s never too late to correct your parenting response.
If you’ve a child who is almost three years old and still
throws fits, begin ignoring it. Change what you’re now doing.
If you’re used to “talking over” the situation
your child has learned that the way to get one-on-one attention
from you is to throw a fit. If you “can’t stand it”
and cave in, your child has learned a productive way to manipulate
you. Also, practice prevention. When you see a meltdown coming,
prevent it by leaving the crowd or move to a calmer activity.
Some children throw tantrums as a result of over stimulation.
While tantrums are a common problem with many youngsters there
are times when the episode requires professional help. Watch for
these three red flags: If your child throws tantrums several times
every day; injures himself (or you) in the process; or destroys
property then seek professional help. I’ve seen a two-year-old
boy wallop his mom in the face while throwing a fit. This cannot
be ignored. Sometimes a child’s continual fits come from
medical or emotional problems and that requires a different response.
Your pediatrician or family counselor can help you learn different
comebacks to these tantrums. Then your child will feel understood
while he learns healthier ways to let off steam.
Let’s go back to my delightful daughter at the busy mall.
I turned my back on her public exhibition. Soon she realized I
wasn’t going to “care.” So she calmed down.
Then I turned and talked to her. She picked herself up off the
dirty floor and hand in hand we strolled on down the mall. I handled
this public mortification pretty well, I thought. And my parental
pride swelled . . . until two elderly ladies scolded me for being
a “mean mother!”
Message
Board: How do you handle your children's temper tantrums?
©2002, Brenda Nixon.
As a speaker/writer, Brenda
Nixon is a speaker and writer on parenting and family issues.
This article is adapted from her book Parenting
Power in the Early Years available at christianbook.com and
bookstores nationwide.
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