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It’s always spinning on the ground for me. The full cheeks and folding of arms. Tantrums are always hilarious. However, they are distressing when conducted in public. I know, the feeling, you always want to spark them but the public eye is always watching to see your parenting skills.
Temper tantrums are not new and will never grow old. It's a daily dose we have to experience and handle. Actually, it's a communication language that we as parents or guardians need to learn and understand the characteristics.

Parenting is full of joy and challenges, especially between months to four years of age. Here, one tends to notice some unique changes in them. Signs of temper tantrums will develop as the kids are too young to express their anger and frustrations in words.
Tantrums are a normal part of toddler’s development as they try to learn to become more self-independent. At the toddler level, the need to express verbally is more amplified. Their brain does not have the capacity yet to reason or use logic when they experience their feeling.
This makes them not to control their desires and outbursts. By following the tips to manage tantrums effectively, parents and guardians are capable of dealing with their toddler's tantrums.
What are tantrums?
Tantrums are unplanned outbursts of anger and frustration for both toddlers and adults. They can be physical or verbal. Tantrums in toddlers are when they want or need something they can’t express with words, and it usually lasts between 2 and 15 minutes.
Tantrum in my toddler, does it mean I am a terrible parent
Your parenting skills are always put to the test when your child throws some tantrums. However, you are not a bad parent. A toddler throwing a tantrum is not a reflection of poor parenting, as it happens due to the kid's personality and current situation. Tantrums are a normal part of a toddler’s development which all young kids must go through.
How to respond during a tantrum
As a parent, during a tantrum, it is essential to stay calm and not complicate the problem with your frustration and anger. The main aim is to calm the child, understand the issue, and provide a child-friendly solution.
Signs of a toddler throwing tantrums
When your child throws tantrums on you or your family members, here are some signs they show.
- Crying and shouting
- Kicking, hitting and pinching
- Swinging their arms and legs
- They usually hold their breath
Causes of toddlers' tantrums
Usually, there are several causes behind your toddler’s throwing tantrums. Here are some of the causes of toddler’s tantrums.
- Hunger

Feeling hungry can make anyone irritable. When your toddler is experiencing hunger, some stubborn behavior will occur as they seek attention. Feeding them with healthy foods in every meal will definitely put an end to their tantrum.
- Illness
Your child may experience some health issues such as fever or cold, clogged nose, and unable to explain their feelings. This will make them feel they are uncomfortable and start throwing tantrums.
- Wanting attention
Toddlers deserve parents’ attention whether you are in good or bad moods. All parents must pay proper attention to their kids. If their attention is not catered for, chances of them raising tantrums will be high. However, parents need to analyze when to provide attention and when to ignore.
- Frustration

Kids always love doing things independently and experience a sense of control even when they are not yet capable of making their choices. The gap between their desire and ability leads to feelings of frustration and finally throwing tantrums.
- Being told no
When toddlers are denied or stopped from doing something of their desire, it triggers anger. However, it’s okay to say no and not feel guilty about it. Parents should teach their children that they can't receive everything they need.
- Tiredness
When children feel tired, they experience a hard time communicating. They display this by causing tantrums or crying.
- Transitioning
Transitioning is brought about by changing from one activity to another. The change can be stressful to the kids if the activity is fun, making them start raising tantrums.
Managing toddler's tantrums effectively
Managing your toddler's tantrums can be challenging. During the toddler level, kids are just working through their emotions and do not know what else to do to show they are upset. Here are some tips to help you manage your toddler’s tantrums effectively. They consist of;
- Understand them
Understanding might sound sarcastic but as parents/guardians, we need to understand the little ones. The tantrums might happen in unpresented times but you should keep your cool and analyze the problem. It can be challenging as parents /guardians are often in the dark about what is driving the toddler's behavior.
- Stay calm

If your kid experiences a tantrum, try to stay calm. Take a deep breath and try to think clearly. Stay with your toddler to assist them feels secure, and if you are in public, take them to a quiet, safe place to calm them down.
- Have control over little things
Try to offer minor choices to the child: For example, 'Do you like orange or pawpaw juice, or do you want to brush your teeth before or after taking a bath? By doing this, you are not commanding the kid but making a humble request. It's also a way to enhance decision-making and opinion for your child.
- Keep harmful objects out of sight.
Parents need to keep away some harmful objects out of their child's sight and reach. It's enough that the child has tantrums and is not ready for more trouble.
- Divert your toddler
If you feel the activity your toddler is doing is not pleasing or safe, try and offer something else in place of what they cannot have. Please start a new and safe activity for them to replace the forbidden one.
- Help toddlers to learn new skills.
Allow your toddlers to learn to do things at an early age. Let them help you with some activities like cleaning utensils and wiping the tables. Praise them to ensure they feel proud and get them motivated to do small skills.
- Give your toddler some space.
If your child’s anger is uncontrollable, let them get mad sometimes until they feel calm down. This way, they are able to get their feelings out smoothly. They pull themselves together and regain self-control without getting involved in conflicts.
Conclusion
Temper tantrums are something we have to look forward to as parents. It's upsetting, sometimes hilarious but we all need to learn our way around it. Whether mild or severe parents/guardians should learn different tactics for handling the situation. Also, you are not a bad parent and it's normal for kids to throw some tantrums.