How Do I Handle My Toddler's Tantrum

Bismillah,

It is quite embarassing when some of my blogging friend called me (now I'm running a cloth diapers online shop) and they heard my child screaming, crying whatsoever. If they can see they will find my ear is red enough (my skin is dark...so I won't get blushing ha ha...). Well, that is what we call kids. They only think that everything is about them and how they feel until they are taught how to share.

Well actually worrying about what others think during this situation is simply going to stress us and make us feel worse. Kids won't have their tantrum once in their life so, how will we as a parent can cope with it? Plus if you are a WAHM, you will face this almost all the time!! So, we have to share how we handle their tantrum. I start first okeh!!

• Ignore - hihi..what a 'pekak badak' mum my kids have. I'll first ignore their tantrum if they ask for something I can't give. Let say they want to eat junk food that was shown on the TV (urgghh...I hate TV for this), I'll first say, "No darling, I will not buy that for you. It is not good for you and got ulat inside." If they understand, so OKlah but what if they don't? They will start squirming on the floor screaming for that ulat things! Then I'll continue to say, "No..never..cannot...bla bla" and lastly they will get the hint and finally stop screaming. Pheww...but this please don't use this tactic in public, people will say, "What a pekak mummy that the kids have!!!" :P
• Avoid instant gratification - I will definitely say no to something that not good to them. Even they throw their tantrum when they are denied, I will simply tell them 'no' and keep moving. Some parents give in to keep their child quiet but this will only make they understand that tantrum will change from 'no' to 'yes'.
• Don't get angry - ops this is not my prime technique. I am the one who easily get angry :P. But I really study my kids situation, every time they scream and later my loud speaker voice comes out, the situation will be out of control wildly. I'll end up crying (this make my husband want to find a maid for me). But I always see my husband use the same calm voice when they are behaving and it is magically effective. Owh, he teach me how to cool down, I have to take a deep breath and selawat before I console them.
• Don't forget their nap and eating time - they will get punchy when they get tired and hungry. So, this is a big thing to take care off.
• Be consistent in your punishment - to the mistake that they do at the public and at home, to the things that you always say no but they still want it. This is why we have to control our temper so that when we get angry, it will be the same in the house or in public.
• Praise them when they behave well - kids will behave badly just to get some attention. Don't wait until they show their tantrum just to get your attention. When they behave well, thanks, clap, hug and praise them. You'll find positive reinforcement is better than negative. They will find that is no need to scream or do anything bad just to get our attention.

So, how did you handle your kids??