| Running errands. Two simple words that are | | | | prevent a tantrum. The trouble with this thinking is |
| enough to frighten parents with toddlers. The | | | | that the added stress of rushing will more often |
| simple task of going to the grocery store is much | | | | than not trigger a tantrum. If you are looking for |
| more complicated when you know that you have | | | | how to stop tantrums, keep your child involved in |
| to worry about the very real possibility that your | | | | what you are doing. For several items on your list, |
| little bundle of joy will collapse without warning into | | | | choose two similar items and let your child pick |
| a heap of yelling and screaming. With that in mind, | | | | which one you will buy. Ask him, "should we get |
| I want to give you three tips on how to stop | | | | Kix or Cheerios for breakfast this week?" The |
| tantrums before they start. | | | | great part is, even if it is something insignificant, |
| How to Stop Tantrums - Tip #1 Give Your | | | | like the color of toilet paper, it will give your child a |
| Toddler Lots of Attention | | | | sense that he is able to affect his world. Having |
| Toddlers and preschoolers are at their core, very | | | | this power will keep your child involved and will |
| selfish. This is not meant as an insult, but as a | | | | often keep him from feeling that he has to |
| realistic picture of their development. They are | | | | tantrum to find a way to exert control. |
| unable, for the most part, to think about anything | | | | How to Stop Tantrums - Tip #3 Talk to Your |
| but themselves. So think of going to the grocery | | | | Child at the Store |
| store from your little one's perspective. The trip | | | | I realize that this is the teacher in me coming out, |
| starts with the ever boring ride to the store | | | | but the grocery store presents a great |
| where he is in the back seat all by himself. This is | | | | opportunity for learning for your toddler or |
| followed by a long ride in the shopping cart while | | | | preschooler. As you buy bananas, say, "look at |
| you hurriedly try to gather all the things that you | | | | these yellow bananas. Let's count them as we put |
| need. Then another lonely ride in the back seat. | | | | them into the bag. There are one, two, three |
| I know that it is tempting to put on a movie for | | | | bananas." Talking to your child like this will not only |
| the ride to the grocery store and to get the | | | | begin teaching the concepts such as counting, |
| carts that have the tv screens built in. Don't do it! | | | | shapes, and colors, in the process you are giving |
| While these things may entertain your child for a | | | | him the attention that he craves. And, if you are |
| short time, they are by no means a replacement | | | | looking for how to stop tantrums, this is another |
| for the attention that they crave. On the way to | | | | great tool to keep your child engaged throughout |
| the store, instead of watching a movie you can | | | | the shopping trip. |
| talk to your child, sing with him, or play "I spy". | | | | Figuring out how to stop tantrums can be a |
| This attention at the beginning of the trip will | | | | difficult process for any parent. You need to learn |
| lower the frustration level of your child and make | | | | about your child and what strategies will work for |
| a tantrum less likely. | | | | you both. While these three tips will not stop all |
| How to Stop Tantrums - Tip #2 Involve Your | | | | tantrums, they do provide a good starting point. I |
| Child in the Shopping | | | | wish you all the luck as you search for how to |
| While at the store, don't rush! I know you want | | | | stop tantrums with your child. |
| to get in and out as quickly as possible to try to | | | | |