how do you get a seven yr old boy from having crying tantrums like a two yr old?

Answer 1

ignore him and sooner or later he'll figure out it doesn't get him attention

Answer 2

I assume from your question that he does not cry because he is truely hurt or afraid, as these would be appropriate times for him to cry. I also assume that he has the ability to communicate verbally and is developmentally normal.

If he is having a tantrum in an attempt to get his way, make absolutely certain that it doesn't work. Attempt to isolate him from any getting any attention (remove other people or move him). He will stop.
When he stops, go talk with him. Explain to him that this is unacceptable behavior at his age. Talk to him about alternative ways to communicate his needs/wants.

If he is reacting to you telling him "no" about something. Make sure that he understands that his "fit" will under no circumstances change your mind.

Inform him up front that there will be consequences for this type of behavior and outline what those consequences will be. I recommend always letting the "fit" be over before he suffers the consequences. (Spanking a child or removing his nintendo while he is already upset is another form of giving attention and may intensify it. Also, if you chose spanking, it can cause you to hurt him if he is slinging a good one!.)

Answer 3

Children have tantrums for attention. Remove the attention and the tantrum stops. When he starts that you should take him to his room and tell him it's perfectly OK for him to carry on there but not in the rest of the house. If you do this every time as soon as he starts it'll stop. Don't try to talk to him because then he's getting attention. If you're out immediately stop what you're doing, put him in the car and go home or to a place where you can separate him from everybody else and then ignore him.

Answer 4

Your boy probably throws tantrums because they are effective in achieving some desired result. He will stop when the result is undesirable (or uninteresting).

I read the other responses...with my children the validity of responses would have depended on the child. However, I would not punish the child for having a tantrum.

I will punish a child (spank,timeout,privilige loss,sit for 10 minutes,etc [depends on the child]) for only three different reasons:
+ lying
+ disrespect to their mother
+ disobeying a direct order

My kids (most older now) understand these rules. My wife and I have been consistent in their application. Sometimes this is hard -- example: I may feel like punishing a child because the embarassed me -- I would not because this is not in the guidelines. To be successfuly in raising a responsble adult, consistent application is critical.

Back to your son.
+ Establish your own rules for the types of behaviour that merits discipline.
+ Be 100% in your application of the rules. This means apply them when you are too tired and do not apply other rules.

You are the best authority on what discipline technique would work with your son. As long as you do not get angry, apply the displine with love (and in a calm manner), and are consistent, your son will learn that tantrums lead to undesired results -- he will stop.

good luck!

Answer 5

Discipline. Not necessaarily a spanking, but enforce the rules you have. Time out, take something the love away from them for a long period of time, reminding them often that you have it and they can't have it back. Kids have short attntion spans and tend to forget about things. You have to make the punishment you set out stick and don't give in. Even when they throw a tantrum like a 2 year old. Becuase if you give in then, then they know ok if i behave like a brat i will get my way.
Remember you are the parent... you make the rules and it's your duty to enforce them.

Answer 6

I had a similar thing happening with my son and daughter until the ages five and seven. I did a whole lot to create better discipline and boundaries for them, and even though my daughter's behavior improved almost completely, my son still had fits of crying and yelling. I decided to take him to the doctor and have some tests done. We found out through allergy tests and blood glucose tests that he had some major food allergies and hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). The doctor explained to us that food allergies and low blood sugar can negatively effect a child's behavior and told us to take him off of all his allergy foods and to limit his intake of sugar containing food (fruit included). Within a month of doing this, his tantrums were almost completely gone. It's been close to three years now, and the only times that he has break downs now are when he eats too much sugar or accidentally eats an allergy food. You may want to discuss the possibility of food sensitivities with your child's pediatrician.

Answer 7

You let him throw the tantrum. Don't let him RUN the tantrum. If he's getting what he wants by throwing it, then he's running it. Merely tell him it'll do him no good to cry, and just walk away. Let him cry. He'll get the hint and most likely stop. If not, tell him to go to another room (not his own, since he has toys!).

Answer 8

Ignore the tantrums. Everytime you give in to them it makes it worse. My husbands nephew threw a tantrum in 7-11, he actually cried and screamed and threw himself down on the floor. My husband just walked outside and waited until he came out. That never happened again.

Answer 9

Treat the child like a 2 year old. Make them go to bed earlier and take a nap time. Tell them they will get privileges of a 7 year old when they act like one.

Answer 10

My first question is he spoiled? If so stop giving him his way so much and when he doesn't get what he wants he won't pitch so many fits. Be the parent and tell him NO....IF he pitches one of his tantrums..ignore him..by trying to calm him down you are giving him the attention he wants. Enough ignoring him and he'll learn it won't work anymore.

Answer 11

Go about business as usual, ignoring his tantrum, but not him. When he gets the repeat message that a hissy fit won't get him what he wants he should stop behaving like that.

If he continues you may want to check w/ his pediatrician.