'Preventing Temper Tantrums On Fast And Early Operation'

By Damayanti Mehta | INNLIVE

Every parent will experience what it’s like to be the victim of a temper tantrum, whether it is (hopefully) in the privacy of your own home or in front of, what feels like, a thousand judging glares from complete strangers in the supermarket. Preventing the tantrum from occurring in the first place is much easier than trying to deal with it once the child gains momentum, so keep these handy tips in mind the next time you find yourself in a situation where your child is just about to let rip and all you can do is look on helplessly, praying that it will end quickly.
Don’t Pay Attention To Negative Behaviors
Attention is a form of positive reinforcement, no matter whether it is negative or positive. If your child knows that they will get attention by throwing tantrums, they might be tempted to do it more often. Instead of focusing on these behaviors, reward them with attention and praise when they behave well; this will convince them that it is worth thinking twice about their actions in the future. Mentioning that you are proud of their ability to resolve a problem without throwing a tantrum can also go a long way in helping them to understand their actions and make the appropriate adjustments.

Stop, Correct and Inform On a Regular Basis
If you notice that your child is about to throw a temper tantrum, calmly explain that it will not work. Once you have done this, go on to explaining what behavior will be accepted by the child. You will also need to inform the child of what type of behavior will most likely allow the child to get what he or she wants in the future. I.e. explain that if he or she asks nicely for a specific toy, they will have a better chance of getting it if they behave, instead of throwing a tantrum.

Surprising The Child And Grabbing Their Attention
If you see signs that signal your child is about to throw a tantrum, surprising him or her can go a long way in distracting them from this behavior. This technique is perfect for situations where you are in a crowded place and you do not want to have to deal with the scene in public.  

Pay Attention To The Child’s Needs
Children are often instructed on how and when to do everything from brushing their teeth to eating their meals, and this means that they will fight for some control every now and again. Giving your child options and ensuring that their needs are met can greatly decrease the frequency with which these tantrums take place.

Tantrums can be avoided with the right tools and techniques, but this doesn’t mean that you’ll be able to stop them in their tracks every time. Patience is the key to getting through a tantrum, and when this does happen, explaining that this behavior is not effective is an important step to assisting the child in correcting his or her own behavior.