Want your experiences with temper tantrums in toddlers....?

Question

My 18 month old godson is throwing tantrums....I watch him full time while mom and dad are at work, what are some things you have done to correct this. As of now, we sit him on the stairs and ignore him while his tantrum progresses, as a timeout sort of. It seems to kind of work, but the whole ignoring him thing is the only thing we have done so far. Sometimes when he throws a tantrum (generally because he was told no or can't have our food, etc) I get down on his level and hold his hands and firmly (not yelling) look at him and say, "You are fine, no need to yell at us" and sometimes it seems to work as well. What are some experiences you have had with similar situations.

Yes, the parents and I are on the same 'level.' But we do need to talK more about doing things consistently. For instance, when I give timeouts, hes by himself, his mom on the other hand, sits with im on the stairs and holds him still. But they are 1 and a half minutes long. ThanKs for all the imput guys! I Know it's part of growing up for babes. And yes, I too have burst into laughing once or twice, but I don't let him see or hear that part if I can help it. Sometimes they looK so completely ridiculous!

Answer 1

You are doing the right thing. Keep on it. I usually just leave the room the child is in or completely ignore him while I do something else in the same room. When they calm down I start to pay attention to them again. They start to learn they don't get the attentio that they crave when they get upset, but when they calm down they get all the attention they need.

Answer 2

seems such as you're doing the the main suitable option undertaking. undecided i could stay on the threshold of her so as that she will see you -she would desire to be attempting to look for the attention. The strolling away physique of strategies sounds lots better. After the tantrum is over i could then attempt to describe "toddler form" that her appearing out does not artwork. I certainly have a 2 and 3 365 days previous- my boys' tantrums are not very undesirable at this age yet they nevertheless have them each so often. I would desire to allow you realize my 3 365 days previous had a freak out tantrum on the mall approximately getting ice cream. We have been all getting ice cream and he needed the dimensions mom and pa had or something so he began spazzing!!! Bigtime!!! It replaced into undesirable-of path my son screamed his head off with some veins busting out in his neck at the same time as mom, dad and little brother ate ice cream and he had NONE!! all and sundry stared (or it felt as though human beings stared) as we sat there lightly at the same time as our son replaced into flipping out. It replaced into approximately 3 minutes and felt like an hour! It replaced into confusing and embarrassing!!!! whether, he stopped crying and screaming and while he calmed down we defined to him that his habit does not get him what he needs. I certainly have have been given to assert he acted as though he understood thoroughly. He not often ever has huge tantrums. whether, he's 3 and does have his moments. stable success to you- being a mom is the toughest interest ever!! and no person relatively has the solutions yet wish this facilitates:)

Answer 3

When the boy I babysit throws temper tantrums..

If it's over his diaper changing, I say (not yelling, just over his screaming) "No yelling. If you don't want your diaper changed, then you have to start using the potty" and sometimes that will work. I also always say "It's okay to cry, but no screaming. It hurts my head." (Sometimes that will get me a "Torry" And a kiss on the head too lol.)

If it's over me saying no or asking him to help me clean his toys, I will ignore him. Sometimes I walk away, turn up the tv and pretend to be more interested in that. If it is a tantrum I can understand (he can't say what he wants, he feels sick, or I can just understand WHY he's so upset), then I hold him. I also always make sure he knows I understand why he's sad, but he needs to not scream.

Also, if hitting is involved, I've already taught him if he gets mad and wants to hit, he needs to hit pillows and not animals and people. It seems to help him calm down alot.

Answer 4

I would try to distract him from the thing that caused his tantrum. And after he calms down, explain to him that he could use other ways to express his frustration instead of yelling or crying. (This will only work if he already starts talking.) I think most of the time my little one has tantrum because he didn't get the way he wants and he didn't know how to express his frustration. So I think teaching him how to do that should benefit him from the long run.

Answer 5

The problem is the toddler is screaming for any type of attention. positive or negative. When my 2yr old who is extremely active and mature for her age throws a tantrums I first try the reverse of yelling. I try to speak nicely and calmly to her trying to understand and speak to her caringly. If this fails, then a punishment is in order and she is put in the playpen. This she absolutely hates, and will scream at the top of her lungs for a while. We let her. Occasionally coming to her and trying to speak to her again calmly, telling her what she did was wrong and asking her if she will stop behaving that way. Eventually she agrees.

Now we warn her about going to the corner or the playpen and that usually cools her down.......usually.. ;-)

Answer 6

personally, I walk away from the one throwing the tantrum.. if they don't have an audience..they usually stop pretty quickly. Once he calms down, explain to him why the answer was no.. and that throwing tantrums won't help him to get his way..
I have three boys of my own, so I know there is no one solid rule to follow.. you have to do whatever works.

Answer 7

Time outs worked well for my son.

I had a corner in the kitchen between the cabinets just big enough for him to sit comfortably but absolutely NOTHING to do but sit.

Plus I set the stove timer for 5 minutes.

It wasn't easy for the 2 year old to sit that long doing absolutely nothing and I had to be firm for the whole 5 minutes.

The big trick is to make sure he has nothing to do during the time out. Sending to their room, just gives them their toys to play with.

Your "Getting down on his level, holding his hands" is perfect for calming down anyone who is starting to "lose it".

I think you're doing a great job!

Answer 8

I walk away.. I just ignore her... soemtimes she follows me screaming and hanging onto me... but she gets attention when being nice... on occasion I have burst out laughing, because the way she was acting was so unreasonable and looks really funny. That made her more mad... lol... but it is so silly to act like that. I just ignore it... when she uses her words, she gets results... My kids tantrums lasted until 6, but got less and less... she now comes up to me when obviously upset and tries really hard 'mom, can I please have more'. A for effort...

Answer 9

Ignoring it is the best thing you can do. You can tell him something like "l am not listening to you until you stop that". It works with my boyfriend's 2 year-old. Kids are smart and they do understand a lot of things, as long as we take the time to explain things to them and why this is a specific way.
If the parents are ok with it and ignoring him doesn't work, you can always spank his butt, see if that doesn't make him stop.

Answer 10

It is good that you get down to his level to talk to him. You are doing everything the way you should. Dont give in is my best advice.

Now that you are doing it correctly, are the parents? If they are giving into him then there is no amount of work that you can do to correct that. Punishment has to remain constant to work effectively.