What should you keep in mind while raising a 3 year old?

By Dr. Sandhya Pentareddy

These are some important things you should keep in mind while raising a 3-year-old child:

  1. Is the environment safe for your child to play and learn? This includes the people she interacts and places she visits.
  2. Are you encouraging physical activity and playtime to develop gross and fine motor skills?
  3. Are you providing enough exposure and opportunity to your child to learn in the form of a stimulating environment, imaginative play and creative activities? Are you reading books to your child to encourage a love of reading and learning? Are you ensuring the content including story books are appropriate to her age? Provide positive reinforcement and praise the child for their efforts and achievements.
  4. Does your child have enough opportunity to socialize with other children and adults, for positive social interactions?
  5. Have you checked her development against the expected ‘Development and Milestones’ for her age? Remember that would just be a guideline and every child is different. But the milestones help in your understanding of your child’s growth and you may a consult a specialist if you have any concerns.
  6. Is your child trained in Hygiene and Self-care: such as washing hands, brushing teeth, and starting to dress independently?
  7. Is her diet a healthy and balanced one with plenty of fruits, vegetables, protein and whole grains? Read more: Nutrition and Meals
  8. Are you promoting good sleeping habits? Establish a consistent routine for sleeping and waking up?
  9. Are you avoiding screen time or at least limiting it and ensuring the content is age-appropriate?
  10. Have you selected a Pre-School for her?
  11. Is she potty trained?
  12. Have you vaccinated her according to the guidelines of her primary health care provider?

The above checklist is a general guideline. Please keep in mind that every child is unique. You may add to the above, depending upon your child’s needs and interests.

By vitalmadevadmin in Child Safety, Development and Milestones, Health and Special Needs, Nutrition and Meals 0 Comment

Teaching Kids About Safety: Tips for Protecting Your 3-6 Year Olds

Teaching-Kids-About-Safety-Tips-for-Protecting-Your-3-6-Year-Old

By Siyona Varghese 

As a parent or caregiver, one of your primary responsibilities is to ensure the safety of your child. This includes teaching her about safety measures and precautions that she can take to protect herself in different situations. Children aged 3-6 years old are at an age where they are starting to explore and become more independent, making it important to start educating them about safety.

Here are some tips on teaching kids about safety and how you can protect your 3-6-year-olds:

Teach them about stranger danger

Stranger danger is a concept that every child needs to learn at a young age. Explain to your child that she should never talk to strangers or go anywhere with someone she does not know. Let her know that if she is ever approached by a stranger, she should immediately tell an adult she trust. Encourage her to use the phrase “no, go, yell, tell” if they feel unsafe around a stranger.

Establish clear rules and boundaries

Children need rules and boundaries to help them understand what they can and cannot do. Establishing clear rules and boundaries can help prevent accidents and ensure your child’s safety. Make sure your child understands that she is not allowed to leave the house without your permission, play with dangerous objects or run in areas where there are vehicles or traffic.

Teach them about basic first aid

Teaching your child about basic first aid can help her understand how to respond in an emergency. Teach her how to call for help, how to apply a bandage and how to wash and clean a wound. These basic skills can be helpful in situations where an adult is not present.

Use role-playing and games to teach safety

Using role-playing and games can make learning about safety more fun and engaging for young children. Play games that involve identifying safe and unsafe situations or use role-playing to teach your child how to respond in different situations, such as what to do if she gets lost or how to safely cross the street.

Teach them about water safety

Water safety is essential for children who enjoy swimming or playing in the water. Teach your child how to swim and never leave her unattended around water, whether it is a pool, lake or bathtub. Make sure she understands the dangers of diving and the importance of wearing a life jacket when boating.

Encourage them to speak up

Encouraging your child to speak up if she feel unsafe or uncomfortable can help prevent accidents and protect her safety. Teach her that she can say “no” if they do not want to do something or if she feels uncomfortable. Let her know that she should always tell an adult if she is being bullied or if someone is hurting her.

Practice fire safety

Teaching your child about fire safety is crucial for her protection. Make sure your child understands the dangers of fire and how to prevent it, such as not playing with matches or lighters. Teach her how to stop, drop and roll if her clothes catch on fire and make sure she knows how to escape a burning building.

In conclusion, teaching kids about safety is crucial to protecting your 3-6 year olds. By establishing clear rules and boundaries, teaching them about stranger danger, basic first aid, water safety and fire safety and encouraging them to speak up, you can help your child stay safe in different situations. Use role-playing and games to make learning about safety more fun and engaging for your child. With these tips, you can help your child develop a strong foundation of safety knowledge that they can carry with them throughout their life.

References

By vitalmadevadmin in Child Safety 0 Comment

Protecting Your Child: Ensuring a Safe Environment for Play and Learning

building resistance in kids

By Siyona Varghese

As a parent, one of the most important things you can do is to ensure that your child is safe and healthy. This includes creating a safe environment for your child to play and learn in. Unfortunately, there are many potential hazards that can threaten your child’s safety, including toxic chemicals, dangerous playground equipment and even strangers.

In this article, we will discuss some steps that parents can take to protect their children and ensure that their environments are safe.

The first step in protecting your child is to be aware of the potential hazards in her environment. This includes understanding the risks associated with the people and places that your child interacts with. For example, if your child attends daycare or school, it is important to research the facility and ensure that it meets safety standards. You should also talk to your child’s teachers and caregivers to understand their policies and procedures for keeping children safe.

Another potential hazard that parents need to be aware of is toxic chemicals. Many household products contain dangerous chemicals that can be harmful to children. This includes cleaning products, pesticides and even some types of toys. Parents should read labels carefully and avoid products that contain harmful chemicals whenever possible. Additionally, parents should store these products out of the reach of children and ensure that they are properly disposed of when they are no longer needed.

In addition to toxic chemicals, parents should also be aware of the potential hazards associated with playground equipment. Many playgrounds are poorly maintained and can pose a serious risk to children. This includes equipment that is broken or worn, as well as equipment that is not properly anchored. Parents should inspect playgrounds carefully before allowing their children to play on them and report any hazards to the appropriate authorities.

Another important step in protecting your child is to teach her about personal safety. This includes talking to your child about the dangers of strangers and teaching them to never accept gifts or rides from people they do not know. Additionally, parents should teach their children to be aware of their surroundings and to seek help if they feel threatened or unsafe.

While there are many potential hazards that can threaten your child’s safety, there are also many steps that parents can take to protect their children. One of the most important steps is to be proactive and to take action to address potential hazards before they become a problem. This includes researching the people and places that your child interacts with, reading labels on household products and inspecting playgrounds and other environments for potential hazards.

Another important step is to talk to your child about personal safety and to teach them to be aware of her surroundings. This includes teaching them to never accept gifts or rides from strangers, to always stay in well-lit areas and to seek help if she feels threatened or unsafe.

Ultimately, the most important thing that parents can do to protect their children is to be present and involved in their lives. This includes spending time with your child, listening to their concerns and providing a safe and nurturing environment for them to grow and learn. By taking these steps, parents can help ensure that their children are safe and healthy and that they have the tools and skills they need to navigate the world safely.

In conclusion, protecting your child and ensuring a safe environment for play and learning is one of the most important responsibilities that parents have. This includes being aware of potential hazards and taking action to address them, teaching children about personal safety and being present and involved in their lives. By working together, parents, caregivers and communities can create a safe and healthy environment for children to grow and thrive in.

References

By vitalmadevadmin in Child Safety 0 Comment

The Ultimate Guide for Developing Patience as a Parent

ultimate-guide-for-parents-to-develop-patience

By Dr. Dhanalakshmi N.

Ph.D. (N), PG Psychological Counselling, M.Sc. Psychology

Introduction

Parenting is an art. Every parent loves their children and yet, we all had experienced losing our temper sometimes. It is important to practice patience daily while caring for our children because children imitate by observing us. Practicing patience will benefit our health, family and other people around us.

The following are some strategies for parents to practice patience while caring for their children:

  1. Identify triggers: Identify the factors causing you to lose your patience. Finding the cause will help you to prevent the triggers or solve the problem.
  2. Self-care: Caring for children and managing their daily activities may be stressful at times. It is important for the parents to care for them with a nutritious diet, adequate sleep, exercise, yoga, meditation and relaxation techniques that will promote their physical and mental well-being and also helps to manage their emotions appropriately. Set a time for yourself.
  3. Practice patience: Whenever you feel stressed and frustrated, consciously calm down and think twice before you answer or speak to your child. Whenever you are angry, practice counting from one to ten before you answer your child. Avoid raising your voice, hitting, shouting or screaming etc.
  4. Practice breathing: Sit in a comfortable place, close your eyes, begin with a few normal breaths and followed by deep breaths, breathing deeply through the nose and breathing out through the mouth. Focus on breaths while practicing. Practice 10 to 20 minutes daily. While breathing relax your muscles and body.
  5. Practice mindfulness techniques: Live in the present moment. Living in the past makes you depressed and living in the future will lead to anxiousness. Live in the present moment by mindful eating, mindful bathing, mindful talking, mindful breathing, mindful working etc., being aware of every activity will promote satisfaction and balance your emotions. For example, feel the color, texture and taste of the food while eating than eating food by watching TV or phone.
  6. Practice Gratitude Journal: Set a regular time to record three to five things for which you feel grateful. Write down an inspiring person, good experiences, happy moments, and blessings etc., Daily practice of a gratitude journal promotes a good mood, positive emotions, satisfaction with life and develops patience.
  7. Practice listening skills: Listen to your child before you respond or react to your child’s behaviour. Ask your child to explain her behaviour or the reason for her behaviour, this will help the parents to understand the child from her perspective.
  8. Practice kindness: Practice kindness. One who is kind to self will be kind to others. Practicing kindness helps you to develop patience. Being kind to self and others reduces the secretion of stress hormone(cortisol) and promotes self-confidence and compassion.
  9. Assess the child’s needs: Assess the child’s needs frequently and meeting the needs will prevent stress and frustration for the child and also for the parents. Making a schedule from waking to bedtime will prevent confusion and minimizes stress.
  10. Work-life balance: Plan for a fun day. Spend time together with your child, relax and enjoy playing some fun games, sharing some stories, doing art and craft work, taking a short walk or planning for a picnic etc., setting time for having fun daily promotes happy hormones and balances your emotions. Daily we have the opportunity to practice patience

Conclusion

Patience is important in our daily life. Practicing the above strategies will help as the key factor to developing patience at home, office and while waiting at a traffic signal etc., Daily practice will help parents to develop patience.

Reference:

By vitalmadevadmin in Behaviour and Discipline, Child Safety, Parent Care 0 Comment

How to keep your child safe

how-to-keep-your-child-safe

By Siyona Varghese

 

Once your child can stand alone, he or she is prepared to explore the world more than ever before and each day becomes an adventure. Although it is a thrilling and enjoyable era of life, there are hazards and dangers there as well. Every child has the potential to be vulnerable at time, therefore it is only reasonable for parents to think about their child’s safety.

If you’re concerned, use these simple tips to help safeguard your young children:

Safety at Home

Several risks exist for children in an adult-friendly household. However, you can protect your child by identifying the risks and then minimizing or eliminating them.

Supervision: Despite the safety measures, kids can still trip and fall or get hurt otherwise. That is why supervision is essential for safeguarding your child at home.

Prevention of Burns and Scalds: Keep your toddler away from flames and hot surfaces to avoid burns. When your child is around potentially dangerous objects, such as stoves, oven, microwaves, heaters and other appliances, keep a constant check on them. Babies and children frequently experience scalds from hot meals, hot drinks (in your hands or baby’s) and overly hot baths. The recommended bath temperature for kids is between 32°C and 38°C, therefore always test the water temperature before bathing them.

Prevention of Falls: In every age group, falls are the leading cause of wounds and doctor visits. Install safety barriers across the entrances to stairways and balconies as soon as your youngster begins to crawl. Additionally, you must continue to keep an eye on your child when they are on balconies or stairs. Lock windows, especially those on upper floors, protect your child by using window guards that are firmly connected when they first start climbing.

Safety from Furniture: If furniture tips over and lands on top of your child, significant injuries may result. Furniture should not be easily pulled or knocked over by your child, so make sure it is solid. Bookcases and wardrobes can be secured to the wall or to the floor to lessen the chance that they will topple over. TVs should be braced or strapped to the wall. Avoid placing furniture with pointy edges near doorways and other areas where kids might be playing. If you are unable to move the furniture, use foam or edge protectors to cushion its corners.

Prevention of Poisoning: Children between the age of 3-6 are especially susceptible to poisoning since they are naturally curious. Toddlers who are still learning to chew on things are more likely to put something in their mouth, while preschoolers are often interested in the things that are kept in cabinet and drawers. Keep all medications, including vitamins, away from young kids. Never call medication “candy”, as it might send wrong messages to the child. Keep all your cleaning supplies and other potentially harmful items locked up in a cabinet or out of your child’s reach.

Prevention of Choking Hazards: 0-3 yrs age group is especially prone to choking because they put so many items, both edible and inedible in their mouths. Avoid giving them food items such as hard candy, chewing gums, entire grapes, raisins and toffees even up until the age of 6. Be careful with items such as raw carrots and nuts. Break them into smaller pieces that won’t cause a choking hazard. Keep objects like pebbles, safety pins, balloons, coins, buttons away from your child’s reach. When buying toys, especially ones with small parts, follow the recommended age ranges and check to see if they are in good condition. Be cautious as little ones put a lot of items in their mouths. The best way to protect is to be a vigilant adult.

Safety Outdoors

Children adore playing outside. It’s a great place to enjoy yourself and test one’s physical strength. Some special safety measures are needed to keep kids safe outside. Here are some suggestions:

Safety at Play: While playgrounds help toddlers develop physically, they are also the main site of accidents and injuries. Parents should therefore ensure that all playground equipment are suited for appropriate age and height, cushioned for safe landing and free from any design flaws, sharp edges or missing or loose fittings. Use bucket type swings for toddlers and young children.

Safety on Road: You can protect your young children from the risks of cars, driveways and streets by teaching them the fundamentals of pedestrian safety. Hold the toddler’s hand firmly if you’re walking alongside them. Don’t allow them to cross the road or walk alone. Teach your young child the basic traffic: stop, look both sides and then cross. In vehicles, tightly buckle your youngster into a car seat or other proper restraint.

Safety under the Sun: Being exposed to the sun for a certain amount of time can be beneficial for the toddler’s development. If the children must be outside in the sun for an extended period of time, parents can reduce the likelihood of heatstroke and sunburn by requiring children to wear hats and loose, comfortable clothing.

References

  1. https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/keeping-children-safe-while-out-and-about
  2. https://www.cdc.gov/parents/children/safety.html
  3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4292654/
By vitalmadevadmin in Child Safety 0 Comment

Tips to parents to develop patience 

tips-for-parents-to-develop-patience.

– By Dr. Dhanalakshmi N.

Ph.D. (N), PG Psychological Counselling, M.Sc. Psychology

Introduction

We love our young children but they can be a lot of work. During their early childhood, the demands of their upbringing can be sometimes taxing. Their cute questions may turn exhausting. Dealing with their tantrums may become seemingly impossible. However, it is very important to remember that they are just kids and that they are facing the pains of growing-up and we as adults must not lose our patience at least most of the times. Here are some tips to gain composure and remain calm, for parents in trying times.

  • Breathe and Relax: Before responding or reacting to your children, take a moment to breathe and center yourself. Tell yourself to wait if you notice your body tensing up or your heart starting to beat when you start to get frustrated. Take a five- count inhale and hold it for an additional five seconds. Gently exhale. As you do this, consciously relax your muscles. You could be taken aback by how much calmer you feel. Taking a minute to breathe slowly also gives you time to connect with your thoughts, which will help you respond calmly. If it calms you, repeat a word as you take deep breaths. You might simply say to yourself “I love my child.”
  • Never resort to physical violence: As tempting as it may be, avoid spanking, hitting, throwing and shaking at all costs. Avoid yelling and loud scolding too.
  • Step away for a moment if possible:  Take a short break to calm down and think before you react. If you’re struggling to remain patient, it’s completely fine to take a short break. Say something like, “Let’s meet after 5 minutes, and then we’ll discuss your situation.” If you are stepping away from a young child, leave her in the hands of a responsible adult first.
  • Practice patience: The more you practice being patient, the easier it gets. If you make a conscious effort to be calmer in your interactions with everyone, you’ll find it a lot easier to be patient with your child. For example, if you’re stuck behind a slow driver, you might say, “Gosh, we’re going slow. Oh well, at least we’ve got more time to enjoy the music.”
  • Spend time having fun with your kids: Relax and enjoy time together to reduce your frustration with each other.  Make a point of spending a little time every day just enjoying each other’s company. You might make simple cooking, play interesting games together, read a story to your child or allow them to choose an activity. If you don’t have a lot of time to schedule fun activities, don’t worry, simple things can be fun too. Make the most of the time you do have, even if it’s just spending a few minutes listening to music or reading a book together when you get home from work.
  • Set aside time for self-care: Do things that make you feel rested, healthy and happy. As a parent, we maybe place our children’s needs first, most frequently without looking after ourselves. It’s important to practice self-care so you have the energy and enthusiasm to care for your children. Get plenty of sleep since feeling rested can help you have patience. Eat nutritious food so you feel your best.  Spending time with your partner or friends is another important aspect of self-care. Make plans to get out with other adults occasionally since you could find that you become crankier when you haven’t spent time away from your children in a while.
  • Count to 10: Close your eyes, take deep breaths and count to 10. This is one of the oldest yet most effective calming-down techniques that is still recommended and practiced widely.
  • Forgive yourself: Occasionally, we all lose our patience. If you do, it is okay. Forgive yourself, reflect on it and be better the next time.

References

  1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6203666/pdf/nihms961935.pdf
  2. https://www.wikihow.com/Be-Patient-With-Kids
By vitalmadevadmin in Behaviour and Discipline, Child Safety, Parent Care 0 Comment

How to deal with phone addiction in Kids?

how-to-deal-with-phone-addiction-in-kids

 By Dr. Jetson Satya Gospel

Let me start this discussion with a quote by Gordon B. Hinckley: “Encourage your children to read more and watch television less”.

The Times of India, a news publication, recently published a two-part series about how children’s addiction to online gaming is turning them into criminals. In one instance, a child stole Rs 4.5 lakh from his family to pay for the game, while in the other, the child killed his own mother. According to the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, instances involving children’s psychological health have significantly increased (NIMHANS). Despite the worry surrounding these challenges, we can raise them with optimism if we take responsible action.

Here are some helpful suggestions to help your child de-addict from television and phone:

Take this acronym “ADDICTION” to be the answer to move children to safety zone offline.

A for Attitude: When parents at home start to adopt a new attitude, kids will soon follow. Be a role-model yourself which you want your kids to emulate.

D for Disconnect: Disconnect from devices and increase interaction with people for work and play. Spend time at home, with each other more and less with phones and devices.

D for Distance: Distance your children from devices. Shut off the TV in the background. Keep the phones out of sight.

I for Imbibe books: Imbibe the practice of reading printed books rather than e-books. Prefer books over cartoons.

C for Communication: Communicate with your children more.  Interact with your friends face to face more.

T for Target: Have a target of zero phone time for children under 18 months, and 15 minutes per day for children under 4 years. Thereafter, no more than an hour of time with devices including TV, Computer and Phone, for up to 6 years of age.

I for Invite: Invite your child’s friends to play physical games outdoors.

O for Oxygen: The much needed oxygen intake increases when you engage in activities outdoors. Walk, run and enjoy the outdoors.

N for No: Say NO to devices during eating & sleep time, firmly.

Avoiding phones and devices is the best practice. During the times that you must use devices, pay attention to keeping your children away from fast moving images and harmful content. The latter can be achieved by certain child safety settings on your phones and devices. Consider going offline before giving the devices to your kids under 6 years. That will also help reduce the exposure to radiation.

References

  1. https://www.quotemaster.org/children%27s+television
  2. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/online-gaming-addiction-is-turning-children-violent/articleshow/92094915.cms?from=mdr
  3. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/parenting/teen/tips-to-help-your-child-withdraw-from-digital-addiction/articleshow/92977357.cms?from=mdr
  4. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/study-play-sleep-repeat/articleshow/90947810.cms?from=mdr
By vitalmadevadmin in Behaviour and Discipline, Child Safety 0 Comment

How to deal with temper tantrums in toddlers?

how-to-deal-with-temper-tantrums-in-kids

Dr. Dhanalakshmi N.

Ph.D. (N), PG Psychological Counselling, M.Sc. Psychology

Introduction

Understanding how to handle children’s tantrums is crucial for parents since it will ease their stress and encourage youngsters to behave well. Temper tantrums are accepted as a typical and frequent occurrence in early childhood, and yet they frequently cause parental discomfort. They are a common reason why parents seek help for their children’s mental health. Tantrums can happen as young as twelve months old, although they most frequently happen between the ages of two and three.

Why do children throw tantrums?

A tantrum is an expression of a young child’s frustration with her restrictions or anger about not being able to get her own way. Possibly your child is having trouble figuring something out or finishing a task. Maybe your child doesn’t have the words to express his or her feelings. Frustration might cause an outburst, resulting in a temper tantrum.

If your child is hungry, tired, feeling ill, or needs a changeover, her threshold for frustration is likely to be lesser and a tantrum is more likely to occur.

When is a temper tantrum not normal?

After the age of four, it is crucial to seek professional advice and correct this behaviour if tantrum episodes become more frequent, disrupt the child’s routine, cause harm to the child or others, or include holding one’s breath to the point of fainting.

Stages of a temper tantrum

A tantrum episode can be divided into three stages and understanding these stages will help you to manage future episodes effectively.

Stage 1: Screaming, yelling, crying and whining

Stage 2: Falling on the ground, continuously screaming, stamping on the ground, rolling on the ground

Stage 3: Whining continuously

Prevention of Tantrums

  • Prevention is better than cure: Prevention is the best way to handle frequent and recurrent temper tantrums, therefore trying to alleviate common triggers of temper tantrums such as fatigue, hunger, illness or injury can be helpful.
  • Be consistent: Create a daily schedule for your child so that they know what to expect. Maintain a schedule that balances enjoyable activities with ample rest and a nutritious diet as much as you can.
  • Let your child make appropriate choices: Give your kid a say in little things. Refrain from turning down everything. Would you prefer to read a book or construct a tower out of blocks, for instance?
  • Appreciate good behaviour: Children require regular encouragement and positive reinforcement. When your child demonstrates restraint, acknowledge them. Give your child more attention when they behave nicely. When your child follows instructions, give him or her a hug or express your pride in them.
  • Make agreements: Make sure you communicate your expectations regarding their behaviour with your child. Make agreements with them regarding their demands (e., what is allowed and what is not allowed) and remind them repeatedly.

Parenting a tantrum-prone child

There are times when parents and caregivers cannot avoid a tantrum but can minimize their stress by practicing consistent management strategies. Parents must adopt certain principles to manage a child’s temper tantrum behaviour. The abbreviation R.I.D.D. can help parents and caregivers handle a typical tantrum.

  • Remain calm and act as an example: It is advantageous to take a calm, redirecting, and distracting attitude. In a normal tone, say firmly “no biting.” Explain your guidelines in a calm manner once your child has calmed down.
  • Ignore the tantrum: Some children throw tantrums to seek attention. Try ignoring the tantrum, but pay attention to your child after she calms down. Spend quality time with your child so she doesn’t have to seek attention.
  • Distract the child: Take your child to a quiet place where she can calm down safely. Speak softly or play soft music.
  • Say “yes”: Yield to a child’s demands when necessary to the child’s physical and safety needs, but resist pressure to comply at other times. If you yield every time, it could encourage undesirable conduct.

Do not use physical punishment as it may lead to tantrum behaviour that is more serious or persistent. Physical punishment teaches a child that it is acceptable to hit someone when they are angry or irritated.

Managing Tantrums based on stages

Stage 1: Screaming, yelling, crying, and whining

Move: Take the child to a different place. Take your child to a quiet place where he or she can calm down safely. Speak softly or play soft music.

Distract: Young children have a brief attention span. Use it and try to divert the child and offer something else. Involve them in a different activity and take the child away from the environment of the tantrum.

Negotiate: Provide an alternative to what the child is asking/wanting.

Stage 2: Falling to the ground, continuing to scream, stamping on the floor, and rolling on the ground

In order to prevent a child from hurting themselves, make sure that there is adequate room. Avoid focusing on or responding to the child’s attention-seeking behaviour.

Stage 3: Continues to whine

Sooth and console the child physically. The child may feel more safe and defuse a tantrum more quickly if you hold them.
Give the kid different toys or activities to try.

What if my child becomes destructive or dangerous?

If a tantrum worsens, remove your child from the situation immediately especially if it could become dangerous. Sooth her by showing tenderness and understanding. Divert her attention. Some people prefer timeouts but note that timeouts should be done in the spirit of providing a safe space to the child to calm down rather than as a punishment. If you want to impose a timeout, consider the following:

  • Timeout is not a punishment: Don’t make the child feel that timeout is a punishment. Rather, make it a safe place where she can cool down.
  • Select a timeout spot: Make your kid sit in a dull spot, like a chair in the living room or the floor in the hallway. Hold off until your child has calmed down. Show that you love and care for her. Sooth her. Consider giving your child a timeout for one minute for each year of age.
  • Stick with it: If your child starts to walk around before the timeout is over, return her to the designated timeout spot, while showing her that you care for her.
  • Know when to end the timeout: Discuss the purpose of the timeout and why the behaviour was improper with your child once they have calmed down. Go back to your regular activities after that. However, don’t overuse timeouts or they won’t be effective.

In these challenging times, make sure to create an environment of positivity at home to try to make children feel happy and relaxed. Take care of yourself too – because if you are happy, your family will be happy.

References

  1. https://www.unicef.org/india/parentingtips/handling-temper-tantrums#:~:text=Provide%20positive%20attention%3A%20Observe%20your,have%20a%20short%20attention%20span.
  2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK544286/
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