Meltdowns and tantrums are an inevitable occurrence if you have small children. As adults, we still sometimes have difficulty processing our own emotions, so it only makes sense that children, who do not have the experience or knowledge that we do, may overreact when processing difficult emotions.
In today’s blog post from Toddler Town Daycare, we are going to discuss a few tips on how you can help your child get through a meltdown or tantrum, as well as how to work towards learning to handle emotions in a healthy way in the future. Continue reading to learn more, and if you are interested in an educational child care center for your little one, look no further than Toddler Town Daycare. Reach out to us today to schedule a tour of our Chicago or Evanston child care centers.
Remain Calm — Stress Is Contagious
When your child begins to have a tantrum or meltdown, the worst thing you can do is to allow your emotions to get the best of you. It’s understandable that your child being upset can have an adverse affect on you as well, especially if the tantrum is occuring in public. Keep in mind that your child has a lot of strong emotions and hasn’t learned how to deal with them all quite yet, and remember that being stressed out or frustrated on your end can contribute to the situation. It’s best to remain calm as best as you can through your child’s tantrum or meltdown.
Show Understanding and Empathy
While we understand that it can be difficult to remain calm through your child’s meltdown or tantrum, one of the best things that you can actually do is to show understanding and empathy. This does not mean that you need to give into your child’s demands. What this does mean is that you should let your little one know that you understand how overwhelming these feelings can be and that their feelings are valid.
Keep Them Safe While They Get Through the Worst of It
While giving in to your child’s tantrum or meltdown may make it come to an end sooner, it is not the most beneficial way to deal with it. You are essentially just teaching your child that throwing a tantrum is how they get their way. Instead, sometimes, it’s best to just let them cry it out. Give them space to get through the worst of their tantrum and keep them safe while they get their emotions out.
Have a Calm Discussion
After your child has gotten through the worst of their tantrum or meltdown and they are calm, start a conversation. Let your child know that everyone has feelings, everyone gets upset, and the most important thing is that they learn how to deal with these emotions in a healthy way. Let them explain what upset them and what led to the outburst. Make sure they understand that emotions are a part of life, and sometimes we don’t get our way, but that doesn’t mean that throwing a tantrum is the best solution. You can then discuss how, if they become frustrated like this in the future, they can communicate and handle their emotions.
Toddler Town Daycare – Educational Child Care Services
Do you have a little one? Are you interested in enrolling them in daycare, preschool, or VPK? At Toddler Town Daycare, we offer educational child care programs that utilize a combination of structured classroom lessons and creative play to help your child develop emotionally, socially, physically, and mentally. With locations in Chicago and Evanston, we are sure to have a child care center that is convenient for you. Reach out to our team today to schedule a tour or enroll your child in daycare or preschool.
