Search Results for: blog taming temper tantrums

Taming Tantrums Part 2

You read yesterday about some tips to alleviate some of the common causes of temper tantrums. Today we’ll talk about some more tricks to make everybody’s lives a little easier. Nobody likes to go to the doctor. Your kids are no different. They may feel some anxiety about having to get shots every time they show up at the doctor’s office. Try to be empathetic. Shots are no fun and can be frightening for kids. Let them know that it’s ok to be scared, but that it’s important to get shots so that they don’t get sick. Try giving them … Continue reading →

Taming Tantrums Part 1

Does your child start screaming the second you mention you’re going to the doctor’s? The dentist? The very moment you are on the phone? For my son it was daycare. I dreaded telling him when it was time to go. The tears started pouring and I literally had to drag him out to the car kicking and screaming. It was unbelievably draining and I wasn’t sure what to do. I had talked to every one I could think of and nobody seemed to know what to do about it. It’s taken a month and a half, but we are finally … Continue reading →

Taming Temper Tantrums

Yes, if you found your way here, you’ve probably experienced one this week–the dreaded temper tantrum. You know how they start. One day your angel goes to bed and awakes the next morning with a smile. As always you fix the little darling her favorite breakfast on her favorite plate and place it at her favorite spot on the table. Then, just when you feel like June Cleaver it happens–she didn’t want that plate, she didn’t want that food, “No, no, no! As long as she is safe, experts suggest that you restate in 4 words or less (in a … Continue reading →

Taming Tantrums

Tantrums are something that most parents experience some more than others. Unfortunately I have had my fair share of tantrums. There are two important things that I have learned: first that when my child is having a tantrum I need to control my own feelings, and second that I need to teach my child correct behavior. One of the hardest things to deal with as a parent is a temper tantrum. It is so easy to allow your child’s behavior to influence you. So you need to develop your own stay calm techniques. I like to count to ten before … Continue reading →

Toddler Tips: Taming the Savage Beast

We talked about tempering toddler tantrums earlier and while you will learn very quickly what works with your little one, here are a few other tips for taming some of the behavior your toddler may exhibit. It’s important to remember, even when you are verging on ripping your own hair out, that toddlers do not necessarily know right from wrong. That’s what we are teaching them. So with that in mind, here are some toddler tips for taming them and teaching them at the same time: Scribbles – Your toddler loves to draw, on paper, on furniture, on their toys, … Continue reading →

Are You Really Giving Your Kids Everything?

The other day, I brought my three kids to a birthday party that took place at one of those family fun centers. There were all sorts of adventures, such as a huge climbing/ball pit, a small laser maze, a rock climbing wall and plenty of games that the kids could play for tickets. In order to play the ticket games, kids had to swipe a card on which money was added. As part of the party, each guest got a card that was worth $3. Each game cost anywhere from $.50 to $2.00 to play. This meant less than the … Continue reading →

Let the Screaming Begin!

If you couldn’t tell by the title of this post I have a screaming child next to me. I’m on the verge of going to find my own corner to scream in. It’s been one of those days…weeks…months…ok, years. He’s very four. I may have thrown the idea of selling him to the zoo around a few times today. It certainly would make for a less stressful night, but I guess I might miss the screaming after a few days…maybe. Kids are hard and it seems they are always harder during this time of year. With all of the excitement … Continue reading →

Difference Between Houses

Does it feel as if your child reserves his very worst temper tantrums for you, while being a complete angel for your ex? I’ve felt this way on more than one occasion. In fact, I’ve had more than a few break downs about this very thing. I felt like my son must like my ex better because he was always so much better there. I recently read an article that made me feel much better about the difference in attitude between homes. Karen Dudley, a child development specialist at UCLA, says this, “The primary caregiver is generally the person with … Continue reading →

Who Are You and What Have You Done with my Child?

For a child who doesn’t handle change well, divorce can be a huge setback. They are experiencing so many changes all at once that they can easily be overwhelmed with the emotion of everything. As young children they have not yet learned how to express what they are feeling and as a result often lash out. This is common even in children whose parents are still together. However, a divorce is often the trigger because of the intensity of the changes that they are going through. I remember how hard those first few months were for my son. All of … Continue reading →

What Are You Really Feeling?

Have you ever noticed that when you start feeling anger, there was usually some other feeling first? As single parents we tend to go through a wide range of emotions, especially in the beginning, when things are fresh. Anger is no exception. It is natural to feel some anger at your situation, to feel angry at your ex for whatever reason. However, usually when we are feeling angry, we were feeling something else to begin with. Take a step back and examine yourself. What are you really feeling? Before the anger set in, were you feeling hurt, embarrassed, stressed, jealous, … Continue reading →