Toddlers Throw Tantrums. Why and How to Manage.

Hysterics is a widely emotional reaction that is not uncommon for children under the age of 5.

Sometimes even the most well-bred children experience this state. The reason is immature inhibition mechanisms of the child’s psyche, however, the situation usually gets better by age 5 and hysterics no longer trouble children and their parents, but if the situation stays the same, you should consult a doctor.

What to do in case of children under 5? The most important thing is to be patient and remember which of you two is an adult.

First of all, let’s analyze the reasons for the hysterics. If you consider the situation in terms of physiology, the reason may be immature inhibition mechanisms that cannot switch or slow down at the right time and the baby gets hysterical for nothing as it may seem but it is a real problem for him or her. In this case, we can do nothing but wait for the baby to grow up. However, there are some triggers that can be eliminated and wonderful lifehacks.

The triggers include the following.

1. The baby is tired

If you are far away from home, have a long trip, are stuck in a long queue in a polyclinic or spend a long time shopping, your baby may get tired. Children cannot explain clearly, what they feel, but it is no problem for them to throw a tantrum for no reason at all.

2. Hunger and thirst

We can see the similar situation here: your baby is hungry or thirsty but cannot get what he or she wants here and now.

3. Seeking to attract attention

In this case, we recommend books about the theory of attachment; they will help you consider the upbringing  from a new perspective. Your baby can go to extremes to attract your attention even if it is negative.

4. Checking boundaries

This situation is typical of the crisis: ‘Must I really behave like my parents have told me?’, ‘If I stamp and scream, do the rules still apply?’. This is how children check their boundaries. 

 

 

What adults should do

1. When the hysterics starts, you have a chance to distract and shift your baby’s attention to something else. You should learn to notice this moment and use it.
2. If your baby starts throwing tantrums in a public place, take your baby away from the crowd and try to stay alone with him or her. You don’t need any comments from any compassionate people around you.
3. There are two ways during the active phase of the hysterics. The first is to isolate the baby and let him or her know that you will discuss everything as soon as he or she calms down. In some cases, the hysterics without any audience stops quickly. The second way is to hold your baby as tight as possible without any words. This is the best way for some babies to calm down.
4. You can discuss everything when the hysteric ends: when your baby is screaming, any reasoning is useless.

In conclusion, we'd like to note that watching cartoons regularly for more than 20 minutes a day can trigger hysterics too. Therefore, as a precaution, pay attention to the daily regime, feeding, and regularity of walks. When these factors are balanced, the baby’s emotional state is more stable. 

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