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24 Fredericksburg Parent and Family • Winter 2020 WRITTEN BY SARAH LYONS ages & stages Things to Remember When Your Child Throws a TANTRUM TANTRUM When your child throws a tantrum, it is easy to get frustrated, overwhelmed, angry and embarrassed especially if the tantrum occurs in public. Unfortunately, the occasional tantrum cannot be avoided. They happen to every parent, but while your child is in the throes of a fit, try to remember these tips. IT IS NORMAL The first thing to remember when your child has a tantrum is that it is normal. Tantrums are a normal way for kids to express their frustration when they may not be able to com- municate their feelings appropriately. While this doesn't make the tantrum any easier to deal with, it helps to know that developmentally this is a normal stage. DO NOT ENGAGE During a tantrum the temptation can be to lecture, yell,or reason with the child. They cannot hear you or comprehend reason when they are in the middle of a tantrum. The best thing to do is to wait it out. If you feel the need to discuss the situa- tion with the child, wait until later when he or she is calm and ready to listen. LEAVE THE SCENE When the child throws a tantrum, make sure they are safe, and then leave the area. Typically, if the child doesn't have an audience to get a reaction from, the tantrum will cease. If you are not comfortable leaving the child alone, get busy doing other things and pretend to ignore them. If the tantrum hap- pens in public, take the child to the car or the bathroom to calm down. If the tantrum continues and the child cannot calm down, buckle them safely in their car seat and drive home. CONSIDER TRIGGERS Think about what triggered your child to get so upset. How can frustrating situations be avoided in the future? Of course, not all tantrums can be avoided, but certain triggers can be removed. When armed with this informa- tion parents can be prepared to use distraction to lessen or avoid a future tantrum. The best thing to do is to wait it out.