mighty kids
HELPING YOUR CHILD THROUGH A
m u tr n a T r e p m Te By Elizabeth Fox
T
eachers, parents and babysitters alike: they all are going to have to deal with tantrums more than once. No child's personality is the same, but there are approaches you can use that will work on most children, even if you haven't had luck with calming them yet.
1
Change your tone of voice
Kids are smart. They pick up on the little things without realizing. If they've heard you use that same tone to scold them again and again, they are eventually going to realize that no real danger comes out of it, and they are still going to try and get their way. When you change your tone of voice, it presents a slightly new situation that they aren't familiar with. They will pick up on that change, feel less secure in their tantrum and listen.
2
Explain the situation
When you don't have a good understanding of a situation, it's easy
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Third Quarter 2021
to feel overwhelmed. Children feel the same way, and when it happens, they can lash out. Whether it was a miscommunication with a peer, a rule you set in place, or a punishment for misbehaving, you can explain your reasoning calmly so they have an understanding of why things went the way they did.
3
Smile
4
Crouch and present your hand
If the child is crying, speak with a light smile on your face. Presenting more negative emotions could make the situation worse. Be sure to speak reassuringly.
Big height differences can be scary. By crouching to the child's height and holding your hand out, allowing them to take it if they wish, you are having a face-to-face connection instead of looming over them while they cry and fuss.
5
Scold firmly
6
Have them look you in the eyes
You might be surprised how effective proper scolding can be if done correctly. If a child isn't responding to comfort or being warned, take them aside and tell them in a firm tone that what they are doing is not acceptable behavior. Be sure to be quick with this talk. It should take no more than a few seconds, as a child may lose interest if it's any longer, and it may lose its intimidation factor. Children may be used to lighter scolding, such as others casually telling them not to do something, and it won't hold any weight with them. Using a firm (but not angry) approach may help. One reason a child may not be responding to being scolded is lack of eye contact. Many children automatically find eye contact out of respect when they are being scolded, while others look away out of guilt. Some,
