How to Manage Your Kid's Tantrums  in Toy Stores
Your child's emotional meltdown is the last thing you'd want to deal with as a parent, especially if you're out in public. But it's common for youngsters to be calm and composed one minute and monstrous the next, because they have not fully developed their abilities to handle their emotions yet. While a tempter tantrum can explode just about anytime and anywhere, there are places where they are more likely to throw a fit, like in toy stores.
So how do you manage your kid's tantrums in a toy store? Here are some things that can help you deal with the situation:
Determine the tantrum trigger. These are signs that indicate when a child is most likely to throw a tantrum, and it's usually when they are tired, hungry, over stimulated or you don't give them the kids toys they want. So the responsible thing to do first is to not bring your child inside the toy store when he is feeling this way to avoid making a scene.
Manage expectations beforehand by talking to your child and telling him what you'll be doing in the toy store and that you are not there to buy gun toys for him but for his cousin, for example. Children usually feel safer when they can predict the next series of events, so by explaining your purpose clearly, you are able to manage his expectations, thus preventing a possible meltdown.
Do not give in. More often than not, their tantrums are a weapon to get what they want. They basically want to get their way and HAVE that toy you said is too expensive, so by kicking and screaming, they're getting you into the trap. As the adult, you should not bend the rules, and must be consistent or else, you're just confusing the child causing more behavioral problems.
If your child is already making a rage, you can still ignore him just to show your kid that you're still in-charge and will not give in. Let him cry or scream but keep it under control. If he starts knocking down toys or his temper revs up, you can do a public time out by telling him to stay in one corner. But if that's not working either, the next best thing to do is get him out of the store.
Do not get into a yelling match with your child. Your kid's display of desperation will be through screaming and wailing, and if you, the parent, responds by yelling, you are only setting an example that in order to get something, one must raise his or her voice. It's quite understandable for parents to lose their temper when their kids are having a tantrum so make sure to calm down before you address the situation.
Turn the situation into a teachable moment, not during a tantrum, but after it has subsided. While our children's emotions are quite fragile, it should not stop us from seizing the opportunity to teach our children the proper way to behave especially when they are out in public.
About the Author
James Knight is the author of this article on toy stores.
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Submitted on: 2015-09-22 05:35:36