It is not uncommon for young children to struggle with self-control, as they are slowly learning to differentiate and manage their emotions. This often results in patterns of outbursts, tears, and conflicts with their peers. Even though such outbursts might be exhausting for parents, there are constructive methods to respond to them. Here in this article, we have listed some simple techniques that can help you soothe your child during a temper tantrum and teach them practical ways to deal with their emotions in the future. Read on to know them all.
1. Help Your Child Label Their Emotions
Describing feelings can be more challenging for your little one than you think. Instead of voicing the reason for their outbursts, they will rather cry and scream about it. However, teaching your kids the importance of acknowledging their emotions and labeling them correctly is essential. It will also help them find solutions to the problems.
2. Help Them Understand The Difference Between Anger And Acting Out
Reassure your kids that it’s normal to have unpleasant emotions like anger, annoyance, impatience, and sadness and that you won’t dismiss or ignore them for that. Recognizing the difference between experiencing these emotions and acting on them is essential. For example, you can tell your child, “I know you’re upset, but hitting your brother because he won’t share his toys isn’t acceptable.” Your child needs to know that you will not accept any form of violence even when they are going through an emotional turmoil.
3. Help Them With Some Options
Providing your child with options and giving them some say in how things go can help defuse tension and lessen the likelihood of a meltdown. In addition, since you’ve previously laid out some potential concessions, you won’t have to spend as much time haggling over them.
4. Help Them Take Deep Breaths
Your kid may be able to calm down and counteract the stress by breathing deeply in and out when they are experiencing strong emotions. Teach your child to take several slow, deep breaths through their nose and mouth. But if your kid really can’t focus, make up a quick game. For example, if your child is having trouble with impulse control, you can recommend that they pretend their fingertips are candles and blow them out one at a time.
5. Distract Your Kids With A Game
Turning off the light or making a funny gesture are two ways to immediately attract your child’s attention. You can have them touch three kinds of soft objects or identify five red things they see. Your job is to divert your kid’s attention so they may shift from the impulse to throw a tantrum.
6. Be Sensitive To Their Feelings
If your child shares distressing feelings, you must show that you’re listening to them. Just being there for them, without trying to fix anything or pass judgment, is all you need to do. Avoid using cliches like “Uh-huh” and “Really?” Instead, think of something more meaningful to say. Paraphrasing your kid’s words can be an excellent example. You may tell the child, “Wow, you have a lot of jobs to perform today!” if they complain about having too much homework. A positive affirmation like, “You’re so good at arithmetic. To solve these arithmetic problems, you constantly develop new strategies, which is impressive.” Make sure you’re on your kid’s level while having a conversation with them. Doing so will show your child that you’re paying them the utmost attention while also providing them a sense of empowerment.
7. Ignore Some Of The Tantrums
Remember that validating your child’s negative emotions does not equate to condoning or rewarding inappropriate conduct. When your child needs more of your attention, they may act out. For example, your child may deliberately act to get a rise out of you by talking back, using improper language, whining, or being overly emotional. Ignore your child for a bit if you see that they are behaving improperly. Nonetheless, if your kid accomplishes something admirable, you should immediately give them your full attention.
8. Look Into What Triggers Their Negative Emotions
It’s essential to assist your child in preparing for any upcoming experiences that may be unpleasant for them. For instance, if your child has a history of trepidation regarding doctor visits, you should inform them about the appointment for a checkup you’ve already set up.