Does your child start screaming the second you mention you’re going to the doctor’s? The dentist? The very moment you are on the phone? For my son it was daycare. I dreaded telling him when it was time to go. The tears started pouring and I literally had to drag him out to the car kicking and screaming. It was unbelievably draining and I wasn’t sure what to do. I had talked to every one I could think of and nobody seemed to know what to do about it. It’s taken a month and a half, but we are finally getting there! Here are some tricks that I have found in taming your child’s tantrums.
Logan still doesn’t particularly like to go to daycare yet, but we have made the car ride into a fun little game to keep him from crying. Just like the “I Spy” books by Jean Marzollo, we make up our own little “I Spy” for the car. Not only does it keep him focused on something else, but it teaches him to be more observant of the things around him. It is a great way to practice colors, shapes, numbers, etc. (i.e. “Let’s see who can find a blue car first!”)
Do you dread going out to lunch with your girlfriends? As a single mom, I always bring Logan along with me. Babysitters are too expensive and my girlfriends like to see how big Logan is getting so he just tags along. But what happens when we have a meltdown in the middle of the restaurant? It is inevitable, it will happen from time to time. It may help to have a special “restaurant bag” full of special toys for them to play with at the table. Keep the bag in the car and only pull it out at the restaurant. Then it gives them a special privilege they can look forward to every time you are out with your girlfriends. Be clear about your expectations and let them know if they are going to cry, whine, or throw a temper tantrum that they won’t get to play with those fun things anymore.
Grocery store meltdowns can be embarrassing. They’re throwing things off the shelves and if you try to get them back into the cart, watch out! Meltdown on aisle 3! Again be clear with your expectations and do what you can to make the shopping trip more fun for them. Let them pick out a snack, or what kind of cereal you’ll get this week. If you have been running errands with them all day, perhaps try splitting it up and going tomorrow. If you try to drag your child around with you to all your errands in one day you are just asking for trouble. Kids get tired and cranky after running around all day, so do what you can to spread them out over the week.
Tune in tomorrow for some more tips on easing childhood tantrums!