Tantrums – Screams and crying oh my
As a single parent, sometimes the challenges of dealing with babies and toddlers can be stressful, especially when it comes to temper tantrums. Of course, if you have children like mine, the best time for a tantrum is in the middle of the grocery store when your cart is near full. I actually had my son do that one time when he was about four. I told him twice that if he didn’t behave, we would leave. He refused so I asked the manager if he would put my shopping cart in the refrigerator and that I would be back later that night to get it – we left! That was the last time my son ever tried that.
Just remember that children throw temper tantrums as a means of showing independence or getting a word across, which is perfectly normal. Therefore, if you find yourself faced with this situation, you don’t have to be embarrassed. However, to get you through childhood years, I have pulled together some helpful tips on handling a child throwing a temper tantrum.
For starters, avoid emotional roller coaster rides if possible. For instance, if you were out and about, make sure your child is fed, has a dry diaper, is dressed appropriately for the weather, has something to snack on or toys to play with, is not tired, and so on. In other words, the more comfortable you can make your child the better behaved he or she will be when out in public.
In addition, make sure you have time to interact with your child when you are running errands. If you were going shopping, you cannot realistically expect any child to just sit quietly and patiently. Children become bored so you would need to talk with your child, joke with the child, and make the trip something fun for him or her too. One great option is to take books along, something age appropriate.
Now, most children want to buy something, anything when they are out with mom or dad. To take control of this situation, thus avoiding a temper tantrum, plan well. You could let the child know that he/she will have $5 to buy things and that you will help him or her pick something out. If the child is young, let him/her know that that one item can be purchased. However, the catalyst is that the child can only get something if he/she is on best behavior. This will take a little bit of practice to perfect but it works.
I would also recommend that you organize your time so you are not running around aimlessly. Make a list of the items you need from the store and plan your errands in the most efficient manner. Finally, just as I did, if your child is determined to throw a tantrum, let him/her know this behavior will not be accepted. You can always ask the store manager to put your stuff aside for you to come back for later.