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Effective Strategies to Help Your Child Calm Down During Tantrums
A structured overview of what credible sources and parent perspectives commonly say about this topic.
Quick answer
Tantrums are common in children ages 1 to 3 and reflect emotional development. Effective approaches include teaching calming strategies like deep breathing, modeling calm behavior, acknowledging feelings, and setting empathetic limits. Alternatives to punishment include positive reinforcement and proactive management of triggers such as hunger or fatigue.
At a glance
Things to try now
What to do now
- 1Stay calm and ensure your child is safe during the tantrum without giving in to demands.
- 2After the tantrum, briefly acknowledge your child's feelings, e.g., 'I know you were upset.'
- 3Teach a simple calming strategy like taking three deep breaths together.
What to say
- “I see you're feeling really angry right now. It's okay to feel that way.”
- “When you feel upset, you can squeeze your stuffed animal or take deep breaths.”
- “I won't let you hit, but I'm here with you until you feel better.”
What to practice consistently
- Narrate your child's emotions during calm moments to build emotional vocabulary.
- Consistently set simple limits with empathy to help your child feel safe.
- Praise specific positive behaviors like waiting patiently or using words to express frustration.
What to avoid
- Giving in to tantrum demands, which can reinforce the behavior.
- Reacting with anger or frustration, which models poor emotional regulation.
- Ignoring the child's feelings entirely, missing opportunities to build emotional literacy.
These are common approaches mentioned in sources and by parents. They are informational, not prescriptive.
What this usually involves
- Recognizing tantrums as a normal part of emotional development in toddlers
- Parents staying calm and ensuring child safety during tantrums
- Avoiding reinforcement of tantrums by not giving in to demands
- Acknowledging the child's feelings briefly after tantrums to build emotional vocabulary
- Teaching simple calming strategies such as deep breathing or squeezing a stuffed animal
- Setting consistent, empathetic limits to help children feel safe while learning self-regulation
Related questions
Identify and proactively address common triggers like hunger, fatigue, or transitions, and provide consistent routines.
Simple techniques include deep breathing, squeezing a favorite toy, or asking for a break.
If tantrums are very frequent, last longer than 15 minutes, involve self-injury, or cause significant concern.
Related articles on Parent.wiki
Effective Strategies to Help Your Child Calm Down During a Tantrum
Tantrums are a normal developmental phase, especially common in toddlers, reflecting their struggle to manage strong emotions. Teaching calming techniques, staying calm yourself, and acknowledging your child's feelings while setting consistent limits can help children learn emotional regulation over time.
Effective Strategies to Help Your Child Manage Tantrums
Tantrums are a normal part of early childhood development, typically occurring between ages 1 and 3 as children learn to manage strong emotions. Common guidance includes staying calm, ensuring safety, avoiding reinforcing tantrum triggers, and teaching emotional regulation skills through empathy and positive reinforcement.
How to Help Your Child Calm Down Before They Hit
Children often hit when overwhelmed by strong emotions and lack the skills to regulate them. Helping your child calm down involves staying calm yourself, teaching simple calming strategies, setting consistent limits with empathy, and acknowledging their feelings to build emotional understanding.
Effective Strategies to Manage Your Child's Tantrums at Home
Tantrums are a normal developmental phase, especially common between ages 1 and 3, as children learn to manage strong emotions. Helpful approaches include staying calm, identifying triggers, teaching calming techniques, and using positive reinforcement while avoiding reinforcing tantrum demands.
From around the web
Tantrums: Why They Happen and How to Respond
Explains why tantrums occur and offers strategies for parents to manage them effectively.
American Academy of Pediatrics
Helping Your Child Manage Big Emotions
Discusses teaching children calming strategies and emotional regulation skills.
Child Mind Institute
Understanding and Responding to Toddler Tantrums
Provides guidance on emotional development and empathetic limit-setting for toddlers.
ZERO TO THREE