Temper tantrums in toddlers are not a fun experience for anyone! If you are a parent and have experienced the joyful crying and screaming perhaps while in the middle of a grocery shopping excursion, then you know first hand how difficult, embarrassing and upsetting they can be.
Wouldn't it be great if you could go to the store without terrorizing other customers? I may be able to help.
Below are a few tips on how to prevent temper tantrums that will hopefully give you some ideas on what to do in situations like this.
The first thought that pops into my head when I think about a temper tantrum is my mother's story about my sister.
She apparently was often a handful to deal with in the grocery store and would literally sit down, while holding onto my mother's hand, and would scream and refuse to go anywhere.
Thankfully I was too young to remember this, but I can image the frustration and embarrassment that my mother must have felt.
I have two children of my own now and can thankfully say that I have not had to experience this problem, and part of the reason, I think, is because of the tips I outline below.
The first thing I did was introduce these outings to my children early.
If it is too late for you to do this, don't worry, the other tips I have should still be able to help you prevent temper tantrums and make your trips away from home more enjoyable.
By letting your children get used to the places you go, they will be less like a fish out of water when you do go to the grocery store, this in itself can make a huge difference.
The next step I take is to make the trip exciting.
Kids get bored easily and if they believe this trip won't be any different they are more likely to act out.
Give them something to do, have an activity for them to do in the car or perhaps even after you arrive at your destination.
Another easy trick is to have a small treat that you give them every time you go somewhere in the car.
Once you've reached your destination, the best way to prevent temper tantrums is to involve your child with what you are doing.
If you are grocery shopping, give them the list, give them jobs to do, even small children can help grab an item and put it into the cart.
If you create little helpers at the store the experience is bound to be much more rewarding and even fun.
Lastly, reward your child, this doesn't have to mean with food, but give them praise and perhaps a small token like a sticker to let them know that they've done a great job.
Praise and rewards go a long way with a toddler, they build up their self esteem and when they are proud of something they have accomplished you can be sure temper tantrums are far from their minds.
Wouldn't it be great if you could go to the store without terrorizing other customers? I may be able to help.
Below are a few tips on how to prevent temper tantrums that will hopefully give you some ideas on what to do in situations like this.
The first thought that pops into my head when I think about a temper tantrum is my mother's story about my sister.
She apparently was often a handful to deal with in the grocery store and would literally sit down, while holding onto my mother's hand, and would scream and refuse to go anywhere.
Thankfully I was too young to remember this, but I can image the frustration and embarrassment that my mother must have felt.
I have two children of my own now and can thankfully say that I have not had to experience this problem, and part of the reason, I think, is because of the tips I outline below.
The first thing I did was introduce these outings to my children early.
If it is too late for you to do this, don't worry, the other tips I have should still be able to help you prevent temper tantrums and make your trips away from home more enjoyable.
By letting your children get used to the places you go, they will be less like a fish out of water when you do go to the grocery store, this in itself can make a huge difference.
The next step I take is to make the trip exciting.
Kids get bored easily and if they believe this trip won't be any different they are more likely to act out.
Give them something to do, have an activity for them to do in the car or perhaps even after you arrive at your destination.
Another easy trick is to have a small treat that you give them every time you go somewhere in the car.
Once you've reached your destination, the best way to prevent temper tantrums is to involve your child with what you are doing.
If you are grocery shopping, give them the list, give them jobs to do, even small children can help grab an item and put it into the cart.
If you create little helpers at the store the experience is bound to be much more rewarding and even fun.
Lastly, reward your child, this doesn't have to mean with food, but give them praise and perhaps a small token like a sticker to let them know that they've done a great job.
Praise and rewards go a long way with a toddler, they build up their self esteem and when they are proud of something they have accomplished you can be sure temper tantrums are far from their minds.
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