Surviving Toddler Tantrums: 5 Tips

A Simple Survival Guide for Toddler Tantrums

Toddler tantrums can seem like they last an eternity, but these tips should help you learn to survive the dreaded fits. Every time my daughter goes into an absolute meltdown, I must resist the urge to fix whatever her issue is. For example, when she gets frustrated trying to complete a puzzle, it takes every fiber of my being not to just finish it for her! I want to so badly.

I want to see the sweet little smile on her face with all the pieces fit together making the perfect dinosaur. Unfortunately, I have to hold myself back. This was one of the toughest lessons for me in motherhood. You see, if I just jump to it and do everything for her, she is never going to learn to do things for herself. I want her to be happy, but I also want her to have the drive and self-confidence to take on the world. It’s a tough feeling to navigate.

Understand Them

The first thing we need to understand is that frustration in toddlers is totally normal. They are literally learning everything through trial and error, and that’s pretty tough for anyone. This is why we have toddler tantrums, after all. Our little people need frustration in order to figure out how to move on to the next step and complete whatever task they are faced with. You can’t punish your child for acting in frustration. Instead, try to understand what exactly is getting them so upset and help them to process through their emotions.

Be There

Empathy goes a long way with our little ones. After all, they don’t really understand their emotions all that well, so that’s where we need to step in and show them some love. You don’t have to smother them with hugs and kisses during the toddler tantrums (unless that’s what they need at the moment), but it’s helpful to just stay close and let them know that you understand. You can let them know that you’re here if they need you but encourage them to work through it themselves.

Address Their Needs

During this time, you also need to make sure their basic needs are addressed. Hunger, sleepiness, thirst, etc. can make children more likely to become frustrated in the first place. If they are obviously hungry, it might be time to take a break from whatever is making them frustrated so that they can enjoy a snack!

Let Them Cry

We don’t like to see our children upset, but sometimes the tears are necessary to move past their frustration. Think about yourself. Do you ever just need a good cry or scream? Well, toddlers are no different. Sometimes they just need to let their emotions out, and it’s important for us to be there and give them the space they need. This can be super hard, especially if you’re in a public setting, but if someone is going to judge you for your screaming kid, just trust that they probably have their own unresolved shit to work through. In other words, screw them. You don’t need that kind of negativity in your life anyway.

Be Patient

Patience really is a virtue. The next time you are at your wits in with a screaming toddler, give yourself some grace. No one said this was going to be easy. In fact, they call it the terrible twos for a reason. Toddlers can be freaking terrible. Give yourself a minute to breathe and know that it will get better in the end.

This too shall pass, mama.