How do you break a toddler of a screaming habit?

Question

I have a two year old daughter and every time she gets mad about something, she starts to scream and she has this shrill scream that makes you cringe! I think i've tried just about everything I can think of to break the screaming habit but nothing seems to be working! Anyone have any suggestions on what I can do that might end this horrible phase?

Answer 1

Ignoring a child may work, however that is not teaching the child anything about why they should not scream. The best thing you can do for your child is to remain calm, get down to her level (eye level), and speak in a nice, calm, soothing voice-- tell her that screaming does not do anything but upset people. Explain that screaming is not an acceptable way of communicating. Then warn her that she will get the "naughty chair" if she continues to scream. Then follow through with it. (One minute per year, so for a two year old two minutes in the naughty chair). Pretty soon, she will learn that she will not get what she wants by screaming, and she will have to learn to communicate properly.

Ignoring a child when they scream only helps the parents, not the children. It is important that a child learns WHY screaming is not acceptable, not just that it is not acceptable.

Good luck to you.

Answer 2

My 19 month old has started this. It is for attention because she doesn't do it ONLY when she gets mad, she thinks it is a game.

She does it when she is mad. The other day we were at my mom's the dogs were barking and she kept doing a little scream back at them (very short), she was barking back.

It is a toddlers way of expressing themselves, I am slowly learning this. I have a very indepentant, lovable, friendly, and high strung daughter. I never spoiled her but she is VERY demanding. It has gotten to the point that if she doesn't want something she will give it to you, if you say to put it down and you will get it she will start crying.

Also if she is running from me and I grab her arm (like for diaper change, normally she just lays down but at least ONCE a day she takes off running) she will let out the shrill scream and not because I hurt her. I usually pop her on the butt and tell her that was "not nessary" or "uncalled for" or something to that nature. Sometime she will cry and I will continue with whatever I was doing (like the diaper change) or I will let her cry for a few seconds and then give her a hug. I tell her it is not okay to scream like that and it needs to stop.

Answer 3

I'm afraid my best advice(I have 4 KIds) is to ignore her when she screams. After a few days or a week, you should notice a big change. I know it's hard and it sucks, but it really does work. Talk to her if she's talking, but if the screaming starts, pretend you don't care. Tell her even, that you have nothing to say to her when she does this. You may have a little less hair by the end of the week, but your sanity should start coming back, lol!

Answer 4

I have a two year old daughter that also screams loud enough to make our ears start ringing. When she does that I pick her right up and go put her on her bed and tell her she may not get up until she calms down. She knows when she screams that that is where she is going to go. It has helped decrease the number of trantrums she has. I hope this helps! Two year olds are delightful and sometimes terrible!!

Answer 5

If you are at home when the child tries to control you like that, pick her up and put her in her room. Tell her she can come out when the screaming stops. Stick to it! Every time, be consistent! She will continue to scream for a while but, will eventually tire of it. Don't let her out until she stops. I saw my daughter use this technique and it worked. Of course when my kids were little we had quicker and simpler way of dealing with it but, I guess that's called child abuse now. Baloney! A little slap on the behind never hurt anyone and helped make them pleasant little people to be around instead of the spoiled little monsters we have to put up with in stores now.

Answer 6

My nephew went through this stage also, I raised him from 3 days old until he was 18. What I did when he went in his screaming moods was, I very gently picked him up & told him I loved him but I wasn't going to listen to his scream anymore. I then placed him in his crib with nothing to play with, told him went he could stop screaming he can get back up & I shut the door and turn on the radio or continued on with what I was doing. It took about a week but it did work. Sometimes he got up and sometimes he fell asleep. He wasn't screaming anymore. Good Luck

Answer 7

Wow...she's either looking for attention and knows how to get it or she is frustrated.

So when she starts her screaming tell her that you are going in to the other room and when she is finished screaming she can join you. That is all. It worked for me. It took several times but she eventually learned that she would not get a reaction from me when she behaved that way.

Also - you may want to get a quick check up with the Dr to make sure she's not in pain - ear ache, etc.

Answer 8

First off, don't give in to her screaming. When she gets mad because you won't buy her a toy or give her a cookie, don't give in just to get her to quiet down. It will only show her that in order to get what she wants she needs to scream her little head off and mom will give it to her. Try sending her to time out for a few minutes and be sure to tell her that it is not ok for her to scream at you. They may be young but they can understand simple commands by this age. For my son, we have a chair in his room that he sits in until he stops crying *it usually only takes a few minutes for him to calm down*. Once she realizes that screaming doesn't get her anywhere, she'll quit. Also, reward and praise her for good behaviour so she knows how she's supposed to act.Don't give up! Good luck :)

Answer 9

If my 2.5 year old starts screaming, I tell him to let me know when he's done so he can talk to me like a big boy. Then I ignore him.

if that still doesn't work, I threaten to take away his favorite toy of the day and that pretty much stops anything.

Answer 10

To be honest our son who is now 3 yrs old, went through that lil stage himself... best way to get it to stop is to calmly tell her that if she wants to scream like that then she is going in the time out chair or the notty spot, which ever works well for you... Also, when she screams, she knows she has your undevided attention and wants to go with it... Tune her out when she screams.. they dont like that at all, and sometimes the screaming starts to bore them because they know it's not getting to you anymore... They are smart cute lil people that spend thier days trying to figure out how everything works in life...... But she needs to know that you are in control...But just remember, that "time out" only works if you put alot of effort into it because she will try everything to get up off the chair... But after a few days of throwing a fit and being put back on the chair for 2 mins, they get the hint that mom is in control...It's always best to start time out when they are at that age because when they get older and have never done time out, it doesnt seem to work....When my 3 yr old throws a fit, I start to count to 3 by the time i get to 2, he calms down because he doesnt want to sit in time out...It's alot of work for you and alot of IB profens lol.... But I think you will do a great job...