Often, people see toddler tantrums as poor behavior. However, when you take a closer look at how a child’s brain develops, you’ll see that toddler frustration and the toddler tantrums that often follow are a good thing! Yes, you read that right. But how are they useful?
Toddler Tantrums: An Important Aspect of a Toddler’s Emotional Health
Tantrums come with the territory of having a toddler and we all know it. But did you know that there are emotional and social reasons why tantrums are healthy for your toddler to experience? Let’s take a look at two reasons why.
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Your toddler feels safe with you
No matter how counterintuitive it seems, a toddler typically only acts out and shows strong emotions (tears, sadness, anger) with the people they feel most comfortable with. While that doesn’t make a toddler tantrum any less stressful, it should feel good to note that often, your child needs love and connection from you to feel better.
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Toddler tantrums help impact your child’s behavior
Toddler frustration is inevitable as your child grows and learns about the world around them as well as the behaviors expected from them. However, when these emotions and frustrations bottle up inside them, they have to come out somehow. Enter the infamous toddler tantrum. But, by releasing their feelings through a tantrum in a controlled, loving environment means that they’ll likely move right back on to playing and acting kind once they release those toddler frustrations.
Three Tips for Dealing with Toddler Frustration in a Positive Way
Parenting with positivity during a particularly intense toddler tantrum can be tricky, but there are a lot of tips and tricks that can help you along the way. Let’s take a look at three of those tips now that you can try the next time toddler frustration strikes your home!
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Give some helpful words to your child
Phrases like “Are you feeling sad?” or “Is this making you angry?” can go a long way in helping your child express what is wrong with their own words. If they can’t, which can sometimes happen, ask them to show you what is wrong and go from there.
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Ask if they want your help
A lot of times, they might say no, but always be ready and willing to help out if they want it! You can even compromise and help out just enough, allowing your toddler to finish the rest of the task so they can feel a sense of accomplishment.
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Be a good example of positivity
It should come as no surprise to you that the more frustrated you get during your toddler’s tantrum, the more it’ll escalate for the both of you. Help your child by encouraging a calm-down measure that you can do together. This can be anything from extra cuddles, reading a favorite book, or playing their favorite game.
Here at Breakie Bunch Learning Center, our goal is to help guide you and your child through the foundational years of infancy, toddlerhood, and beyond! Choosing the right daycare for your family is vital to making sure your children are loved and accepted through the inevitable toddler tantrums. If toddler frustration is getting the best of you, contact us today! Often our teachers are working on the same skills in the classroom and are happy to team up with you to help your child healthily navigate their emotions.