| Are you worried about your child's tantrums? What | | | | Tantrums: |
| can you do when you've tried everything? Inside you'll | | | | What positive benefit is my child gaining by his |
| find some tips to boost your parenting skills with difficult | | | | behavior? |
| children. | | | | Think about it. Talk it over with your spouse, a friend |
| Pretend You Have This Parenting Problem: | | | | you trust, or a child counselor. |
| Your son is three years old and has a terrible temper. | | | | Then ask yourself: |
| He simply does not listen to any thing you tell him to do | | | | How can he get his positive benefit without behaving |
| and blatantly ignores anything you ask him to do. If you | | | | badly? |
| tell him not to do something he ignores you as well. | | | | The answers to these two questions should give you |
| You have tried everything from gentle persuasion, to | | | | some ideas on the action to take. Perhaps you'll use |
| bribing him, sending him to his room, taking his favorite | | | | time out, take away a privilege, ignore him, or bond with |
| toys from him, etc. but nothing seems to help. | | | | him lovingly when he isn't exploding. Whatever you |
| You are afraid he will be labeled with behavioral | | | | choose to do, be consistent. |
| problems when he goes to school. | | | | Example of a Tantrum Problem: |
| If you're the parent of a child who throws temper | | | | Let's say you tell your child, "Put your toys away. |
| tantrums, please don't think of him as a behavior | | | | We're going to eat dinner soon." He yells, "No, I don't |
| problem. Do think of his behavior as a challenge for | | | | want dinner." He starts screaming and throwing his |
| you to solve. Why? You are the parent. | | | | toys instead of putting them away. What does he |
| Parenting Tips ~ Children Misbehave and Have | | | | want? Is it power, revenge, attention, helplessness or a |
| Tantrums for These 4 Reasons: | | | | combination? |
| Power ~ they want to get their way | | | | If his tantrums are frequent, you're the best person to |
| Revenge ~ they want to get back at you for | | | | answer what he really wants. This is your challenge. |
| something | | | | No one knows and understands him better than you. |
| Attention ~ they want to be noticed | | | | This is also your opportunity to teach the kind of |
| Helplessness ~ they want you to do things for them | | | | discipline that sets him free from his tantrum behavior. |
| they can easily do themselves | | | | Temper Tantrum Summary: |
| As a parent, you're task is to figure out why your child | | | | When you ask yourself the two questions above, don't |
| is having tantrums. This will guide you in the actions you | | | | forget to take action with kindness and firmness. |
| take. | | | | When you understand your child and make good |
| 2 Important Parenting Questions for Dealing with | | | | choices you'll be building character too. |