Does your four-year-old throw a tantrum every time you go out buying groceries? Does your little girl start crying when you refuse to buy chocolate and she decides to have a full-blown tantrum right there in the middle of the store with hysterical crying and a pouty face? In a situation like this, what are parents supposed to do?
Equally common in boys and girls, temper tantrums develop between the age of one to five. According to Ayurveda, the ancient healing wisdom from India, it has been observed that there are three main types of personalities and there are different ways to manage these personalities.
Let’s have a look at the tried tips and tricks to manage temper tantrums in children.
Check-in With Yourself and Your Child
It is crucial that you first check in with yourself. Being an adult, you cannot lash out at your baby instead take a deep breath and count to ten. Make sure to slow down and gradually shift gears so that you are not reactive.
According to Ayurveda, there are two main types of doshas:
Vatas: They are curious about nature and born explorers. If their brain is not occupied, then they might feel trapped and bored. Make sure to keep them preoccupied otherwise they might feel emotionally frustrated. Vatas have anxiety issues and anger filled with tears.
Pittas: If the meals are too hot or the meals are skipped, these kids will get aggravated too easily. Try to give such kids cool and neutral foods that will help pacify the pitta fire within them. A good preventive measure is to always carry protein bars whenever hunger strikes them.
Comfort Your Child
No matter why your child is angry, let them know that you are there for them. Give them a big tight hug and support them in every situation. In such aggressive situations, your child doesn’t have a stable center but by being polite and calm you can ground them.
Change Your Child’s Brain State
During your child’s meltdown process, the rational part of their mind shuts down and the emotional side takes over. It is possible that they might not be able to process what you are saying because they are so overwhelmed. It is important to change their brain state by rectifying the imbalance of elements.
Try to move your child to a much calmer and peaceful environment. It will help change their brain state and it might calm them down.
Give Choices
After your child is calmed down, give them choices and allow them to make decisions. Ask them questions like “Should we resume shopping or go home?” or you can also divert their attention to some non-triggering subjects like their friends and school.
Summing Up!
Good parenting means that you allow your child to have self-reflection without any guilt or shame. Inspiring your child to do better and reinforcing positive behavior will let your child be calm in the long run. Try to use these easy tips and tricks to keep your child’s anger in check.
