The Best Way to React to Tantrum-throwing Kids

An expert has suggested some ways to handle a tantrum-throwing child.

Chuck Smith, a Kansas State University child development expert, said that when children act out in public, parents don't always know how best to respond.

He said that the proper way to react depends on a number of factors including the child's age, the purpose of the public outing and whether the child's behaviour even needs to be corrected.

Smith said that the golden rule for parents is to set reasonable expectations and to stick to your guns when enforcing them.

"Many parents are concerned with the glare of onlookers, so they'll let their kids get away with things because of the threat. You can't let a child leverage your own sense of embarrassment in public to get what he or she wants. It's not that you ignore the public, but you have to decide where your real priority is-and that is with teaching your child. You can't ever lose focus on that," Smith said.

First, Smith said parents should work on developing age-appropriate rules about how their children should behave in public. For example, asking a 5-year-old to be quiet in church is probably unreasonable. On the other hand, expecting that child to keep food in their mouth during a meal at a restaurant is not.

When a child misbehaves, Smith said it's useful to gently remind them of the rules by asking them whether they can recall what they are supposed to do.

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"Then, when they look at you in a confused manner, you firmly remind them of the rule. You don't ever punish a child for something they didn't know they weren't supposed to do," Smith said.

Whatever the behaviour, parents also have to decide whether it's worth correcting. For example, parents often will negotiate with a child who continues to whine about not getting a toy from the store. Smith calls that sort of behaviour from children irrelevant and adds that it's perfectly valid to ignore it.

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"Any response to whining or crying, even punishment, shows that a child is in control and is pulling a parent's strings. The parent should rise above this noise and remain steadfast to the limit they set. You have to be smarter than the kid and realize that you are not going to be drawn into this," Smith said.

If the parent succumbs to that sort of behaviour - even once - they'll have a long road to hoe before the child will take them seriously again, Smith said.

"If you give in, you are going to have lots of temper tantrums before they realize that doesn't work. The child will remember that throwing a fit worked that one time. Gradually, they'll realize that throwing a temper tantrum isn't worth the energy, but it will take a lot longer and will take a toll on both the parents and child," Smith said.

In situations where a child is being a nuisance, Smith said it's also important for members of the public not to make the situation worse.

Unless there is obvious abuse going on, it's best to not intervene unless you are offering help to the parent.

"Parents need to be appreciated for the hard work they do. Never assume you know what's going on. You have no idea how this child normally reacts and what this parent is going through," Smith said.

In some situations, Smith says a bit of understanding can go a long way.

"You can say something like, 'I'm sure it's been a long day for you, what can I do to give you a hand?' You're recognizing that person's struggle and if they're on the edge of doing or saying something inappropriate, you're helping to bring them back to reality," Smith said.

Source-ANI
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