How to Survive Your Child's Meltdown

Tantrums are caused by anger and frustration and is a normal part of child development.

Young children are very selfish little people, they know what they want and they want it NOW.

It's all part of your wee ones growing in independence and testing the limits but will we live to tell about it?

Things You'll Need

• A whole lot of love
• A whole lot of patience

Instructions

1. 

   First of all there is a light at the end of the toddler tunnel and children usually grow out of having tantrums around three years old. By the time your child is three, she should have enough verbal skills to avoid a complete meltdown.

   All tantrums are not created equal, and what worked yesterday may make things worse today.

2. 

   A angry toddler not having his way will soon turn into a full blown, head spinning meltdown. Handling these unpredictable little people at home is a walk in the park compared to the grocery store meltdown or the nice restaurant meltdown.

   It is our job to support our kids and help them through when they enter the "dark side".

   There is no reasoning with a child once they have gone into a tantrum, so save your breath. Make sure the flailing child can't hurt himself, or find things in his reach to throw, or hit. It may be the case that the child is so totally out of control that you have to support him by restraining him. Just sit on the floor with him, cross his arms in front of him, you behind him giving him a bear hug. It wont be a physical battle and your child will soon be relaxed and feeling safe.

   Don't leave your child alone. Sending her to her room alone to have her meltdown is abandoning her to her own out of control behavior. Stay where you can see the child, even when she yells at you to "go away". She feels the comfort of having your there and knowing that she is not alone.

3. 

   O.K. This is the fun one, the total freak out in the grocery store or restaurant. You should know that not all children should be in a restaurant. Some children are just not mature enough yet for this outing and, the other patrons in the restaurant should not be subjected to it.

   In the grocery store when the little dear collapses in a heap because you wont buy the ice cream, just calmly stand there and wait for it to be over. Don't leave him alone and just politely smile at the audience that has surely gathered.
   It may not feel like it but know and be confident that you are the one in charge. If the tantrum does not end, calmly pick up your child and leave the store. That's right, just leave and go back later without him.
   Doing this exercise about three times will end the tantrums in the grocery store. You can do the same thing at a restaurant tell the waiter you will be taking the food to go and leave, trust me the waiter will thank you for it.

   Next time you go out explain what you expect. Be very clear and very precise and explain that you will leave if he starts to cry or act up.

   Remember you don't know those people that are giving you the evil eye and you are raising a child and giving him the chance at being successful in controlling his behavior.

   If all else fails get a baby sitter or call grandma and wait for the toddler years to be over.