Toddler Tantrums  

Why is my toddler acting this way?

It’s that time in your child’s development when it appears that they have decided that they are in control and are going to embarrass you at every opportunity by throwing themselves on the floor, crying and screaming at the top of their voices.

Despite how it feels to you, your child is not actually doing this on purpose.  They have reached a pivotal stage in their development where they are eager to do things on their own, and they have a desire to be independent, but they are also beginning to discover that they are expected to follow certain rules and cant always have things their own way.  The difficulty with this normal development is that it can lead to inappropriate behaviour, frustration, out-of-control feelings and ultimately – tantrums.

Some of the typical behaviour’s include:-

• Crying
• Screaming
• Hitting out, kicking and biting
• Fighting with siblings
• Throwing things
• Slamming doors
• Total meltdowns/temper tantrums

These behaviours, however challenging, are a normal part of child development. Two-year-olds undergo major motor, intellectual, social and emotional changes, we should also consider that children at this age can understand much more speech than they can express.

What do I do when my child is having a temper tantrum?

The best thing to do when dealing with a toddler temper tantrum is to stay calm and  ignore the behaviour. Turn your gaze away from the child, and engage in another activity, do not speak or interact with the child. I know this will be incredibly difficult, but our attention to our children is the strongest tool we have for teaching them acceptable behaviours. We should use our attention to reinforce positive behaviours and not reward negative behaviours such as temper tantrums.

As soon as your child stops their ‘hissy fit’ we need to acknowledge this with positive praise, say something like, “Thank you so much for sitting quietly.”  It can be incredibly useful to label an emotion afterward and show your child that you understand that they are feeling anger or frustration, such as saying, “I can tell you are frustrated and angry right now.” This reassurance and acknowledgement that you understand their frustrations will have a positive effect moving forwards.

By accepting the changes your child is going through and showing him or her love and respect, you’ll help your child make it through this difficult stage with confidence.

Homeopathy and Temper Tantrums

Homeopathy is a natural form of medicine which is a safe, non-toxic and effective treatment that helps children (and Parents) through this challenging time.  It is tailored to each unique individual giving support and enabling the body to process the emotions more efficiently. Homoeopathic medicine dynamically helps the child in need, to manage the frustration and thus maintaining a balance in the parent-child relationship.  It will not change the personality of the child but it will bring the child into balance both physically and emotionally.

 

When should I worry about temper tantrums and get additional help?

Children normally grow out of having temper tantrums, some quicker than others, but usually by age 4/5.  If the tantrums are very severe, lasting longer periods of time, and occurring multiple times per day and/or occurring in a child older than 5 on a regular basis, then it may be time to talk to your paediatrician or GP to assess the situation.

 

To book in for a FREE 15 min chat to discuss how Homeopathy can help you and your family – Click here

Check out blog Top 6 Homeopathic Remedies for Temper Tantrums

Check out blog for Homeopathic Support for Parents dealing with Toddlers