Things You'll Need:
- Patience and a willingness to get down to the toddler's level to fully try and understand what they are thinking.
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Step 1
Imagine being in the grocery store one busy afternoon with your children, getting ready to check out at the register. You notice that it's impossible to get into the line with "no candy" today, so you gather the kiddos and hope for the best as you get into a regular line. The store is crowded and there is a long line ahead of you. You start loading food onto the belt. You sense a fight brewing between your children, since they are antsy and tired and don't want to be there. Your youngest asks for a candy bar, but you tell him not today. He pretends he doesn't hear you and asks again if he can have a candy bar. After repeating yourself a dozen more times, your precious little one breaks out in full tantrum mode in front of the entire store (or so it seems at the time). It's all done for. If he can't have the candy, he certainly wants me and everyone else to know how he feels about it. Grabbing the candy, he screams and cries and generally has a huge fit right there on the checkout floor. The other shoppers are staring like they've never seen anything like it, as if your child must be some rare species of human offspring for acting so misbehaved. You are embarrassed and want so badly to grab your children, leave your groceries behind, and run for the nearest exit. What is the best thing to do in a situation like this? Most parents come across it at least once in their parenting careers. As a mother who has had been there and done that, I have learned some things along the way that I would like to share. The first step is to take a BIG BREATHE. No matter how silly it sounds, experts agree deep breathing goes a long way in calming and relaxing the mind and body.
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Step 2
The next thing would be to try to keep your cool, even if you are boiling with anger inside or unsure how to handle the situation. Realize that children are good at picking up on emotions, so try your best to keep neutral and unemotional. Do not fuel the arguement by continuing to talk about the subject. Once you have said "No", don't continue to repeat yourself. Tune out the rest of the store if you can. Don't worry what Joe Shmoe at the end of the line is thinking about the whole event. At this point you might be tempted to give in to the child so that the noise will stop. That will not teach the child anything in the long run, except that if he or she fusses and fights long enough...you will give in. Stick to your guns, so to speak.
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Step 3
The next step would be to continue as quickly as you can with your business and leave the store. As long as you protected your child from harming his or herself during the tantrum, you both have basically survived a difficult part of child development and can learn from this experience.
