My one year old has been throwing tantrums and I am so embarrassed. Any suggestions?

amandaelias February 12, 2009 3:18 PM

Tantrums are very common in toddlers. The reason for this is that during this stage of development they are beginning to establish a sense of autonomy and may become frustrated when things don't go they way they want or expect. Your child most likely hasn't established the language skills yet to express themselves, nor do the have the control or inhibitions that adults have. Once in the midst of a tantrum, try to keep your cool - your child can sense your frustration or embarrassment and it will only escalate the situation. Secondly, try to understand where your child is coming from emotionally. If they are feeling disappointment, they may require a little comforting - This will get you a lot farther than just telling him/her to stop. It's key to address the emotional aspect rather than the behavioral aspect during the tantrum. Your child is too young to acknowledge or rationalize that the behavior is inappropriate.

Try to be proactive and avoid a situation where a tantrum may arise. One suggestion is to give your child choices. Rather than saying "Do you want to go pick up your toys?", which the answer will usually be "no", give your child the choice "Do you want to pick up the trucks or the blocks first?" They will feel like they are establishing the rules and making their own choices. This theory can be applied in many different situations and settings and will hopefully help reduce the tantrum behavior.