Parenting Toddlers (1-3) Support Group
This community is focused on the joys, challenges and concerns faced by parents of toddlers (1 to 3 year olds). The major areas of child development include: physical development, perception and sensory development, communication and language development, cognitive development, emotional development and social development. Join to share your stories and get advice.
My 20 month old son has just started throwing temper tantrums. I have always thought that you just ignore them and they will stop. Well all weekend he has been throwing BIG tantrums, big tears and stomping feet. I have been a little tense myself lately with some personal issues, I don't know if he has started his terrible 2's or if he just senses my moods... I would appreciate any advice on how to handle the tantrums and how do you dicipline your children. I am hoping that this is just a quick phase that he is going through, but I am afraid that this is the way it is going to be for the next few years....
All children respond differently. Generally, though, it is best to ignore them if you can. I have used timeout on Clare-bear for tantrums.
Last night she'd gone from one tantrum to the next with short intervals of whining in between for about an hour. I was in the kitchen and she was in the lounge - Her dad had chosen to go to the shops. Typical! - And I looked at her and said, well shouted really; "JUST STOP IT!" Funny she did. LOL!
It's not a fear thing - She just knew she'd pushed me too far and I think that there is no harm in letting them know they've crossed a line.
But then, I tend to be quite honest emotionally with my child. If she hurts me and it make me want to cry I will shed a few tears - She needs to know that hitting and biting hurt people and sometimes they cry if they're hurt. And she also need to know when she has made me angry.
I have 3 little ones and the 4yr old wasn't all that bad, but Sophie who is 29 months and is a holy terror! She likes to battle 24/7. We ue the timeout method, removing her from the situation and a few other things that escape my mind at the moment. Ususally it works, but sometimes it doesn't.
I'm sure we're going to go through this with #3 (who is only 13 months now) and are prepared for it.
I also have to say that your son is probably picking up on your mood and this happens to me all the time. When you start to get upset, the little ones know this and then start to push all our buttons. We have to try to remember that our kids are people and have emotions just like we do. Howwever, they can't communicate like we would like them to, so they do it the only way they know how--stomping, screaming, crying.
It gets trying, but the phase does pass. You also need to stay your ground and if you opt for timeouts or anything, you need to make sure to stick with it, otherwise it won't work.
When your son starts to throw a tantrum, see if you can see what happened beforehand. Was he playing with a toy and got frustrated? Is he tired? Hungry? Many things can set them off, but then sometimes you can look crosseyed and they start to scream and you just can't win.
Good luck and we are here for you!
I think it is going to be a learning process for him and myself... For the hubby he is always an angel... not fair.
Zach did hit me in the face the other night and it did bring tears to my eyes becuase he hurt me emtionally, he knew what he did was wrong as soon as he did it, he gave me 3 kisses in a row and hugged me for 1 minute straight. So I am glad he knows it is wrong and I do understand that he gets frustrated, hopefully it won't last too long :)! Everyone tells me it last well over age 3, YIKES!
If you give them what they are looking for they will continue....
With our daughter her tantrums are beyond the norm...
It gets the the point of us having to put her in a pack and play so she dont hurt herself.
I hope yours will pass soon