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Daycare Center and Family Home Forum>Two Year Old Temper Tantrum
My3cents 11:00 AM 07-09-2013
What works?

What works for the above and beyond Tantrum?

Can be over anything, toy taken away for ruff play to wrong shoes

Terming not an option, this child is good for most of the time.

When this child goes into this TT fit it goes beyond, would love some helps advice etc.....

How do you handle the horrible two's and TT?
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Evansmom 11:07 AM 07-09-2013
As long as there are no other issues (like ADHD, SPD, Autism, etc.) and as long as no one is in danger from the tantrum I ignore them. Tantrums get nothing from me. If they are disrupting other children I will pick them up and move them to a place away from the group but that's it.

Sometimes I will quietly and calmly with no emotion say "when you settle down we can (fill in the blank with what you are willing to offer here)" or something like that but most of the time I just walk away or turn my back.

After the tantrum I will always have a quiet discussion about what happened, reiterate that tantrums and screaming get nothing and what I'd like to see happen instead like making a polite request.

Kids learn real quick that tantrums don't work with me and I don't and haven't had a problem with them.

Now kids with ED, SPD etc. another story and MUCH harder to deal with. I have two of my own with SPD and it's been a real challenge.
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e.j. 11:20 AM 07-09-2013
Originally Posted by Evansmom:
As long as there are no other issues (like ADHD, SPD, Autism, etc.) and as long as no one is in danger from the tantrum I ignore them. Tantrums get nothing from me. If they are disrupting other children I will pick them up and move them to a place away from the group but that's it.

Sometimes I will quietly and calmly with no emotion say "when you settle down we can (fill in the blank with what you are willing to offer here)" or something like that but most of the time I just walk away or turn my back.

After the tantrum I will always have a quiet discussion about what happened, reiterate that tantrums and screaming get nothing and what I'd like to see happen instead like making a polite request.

Kids learn real quick that tantrums don't work with me and I don't and haven't had a problem with them.

Now kids with ED, SPD etc. another story and MUCH harder to deal with. I have two of my own with SPD and it's been a real challenge.
When my son (who has Asperger's) used to have meltdowns, this is exactly how I handled them. Reacting to them just fed into the tantrums and made them last longer. Remaining calm and ignoring them as much as possible allowed him to calm down much faster. As long as he wasn't in any danger of harming himself, I would calmly tell him, "When you're done, let me know." Once he was calmed down, we would talk it over and discuss better ways to handle his frustrations.
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Blackcat31 12:00 PM 07-09-2013
Originally Posted by e.j.:
When my son (who has Asperger's) used to have meltdowns, this is exactly how I handled them. Reacting to them just fed into the tantrums and made them last longer. Remaining calm and ignoring them as much as possible allowed him to calm down much faster. As long as he wasn't in any danger of harming himself, I would calmly tell him, "When you're done, let me know." Once he was calmed down, we would talk it over and discuss better ways to handle his frustrations.
Another thumbs up for this ^^

My pediatrician told me when my son had tantrums (also an Aspie) to ignore them....they preform when they have an audience.

Take away the audience and there is no joy in performing.

Talk it through later when they are calm and able to focus on what you are saying.
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NeedaVaca 12:07 PM 07-09-2013
The audience part is so true, I have seen them (many times and different kiddo's) put their hands over their eyes while crying but then peeking through their fingers to make sure I am still watching them. Nope, I make sure I stay busy doing something so they don't think I'm paying any attention to the fit!
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WImom 12:37 PM 07-09-2013
I do the same as others. Ignore them, move them to a place noone will get hurt. Ie: they start it when near other kids I will move them so they don't kick anyone.
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daycare 12:50 PM 07-09-2013
Originally Posted by NeedaVaca:
The audience part is so true, I have seen them (many times and different kiddo's) put their hands over their eyes while crying but then peeking through their fingers to make sure I am still watching them. Nope, I make sure I stay busy doing something so they don't think I'm paying any attention to the fit!
OMG I have this child.....lol I make sure to have them sit in the direction that they won't see any of us.......its kind of funny to watch......little boogars
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My3cents 11:17 AM 07-10-2013
What do you do when child refuses to go to time out or calm down station or won't stay once you have placed them there?
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Heidi 11:24 AM 07-10-2013
Originally Posted by My3cents:
What do you do when child refuses to go to time out or calm down station or won't stay once you have placed them there?
That's one of the reasons I just don't use them. In WI, I can't use them for children under 3 anyway.

I do use the playpen on rare occasion for the one little man (like I said yesterday). But, there is a toy in there for comfort, and I present it as a break, not a time-out. Not sure how licensing would look at it, so I'd be unlikely to do it in front of a licenser. 99% of the time, redirection works way better anyway.

Now, if it's for screaming/crying and carrying on, I would really just keep leading him back to the crying spot or calming corner. Instead of "time-out", which means 1 minute per year of age or you say when he can come out, it's "here is the calming corner, come out when you are calm". Or "your screaming hurts my ears, so back and play when you are done". It's a comfy spot, not a hard chair with a dunce cap...(jk )
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My3cents 11:52 AM 07-10-2013
Originally Posted by Heidi:
That's one of the reasons I just don't use them. In WI, I can't use them for children under 3 anyway.

I do use the playpen on rare occasion for the one little man (like I said yesterday). But, there is a toy in there for comfort, and I present it as a break, not a time-out. Not sure how licensing would look at it, so I'd be unlikely to do it in front of a licenser. 99% of the time, redirection works way better anyway.

Now, if it's for screaming/crying and carrying on, I would really just keep leading him back to the crying spot or calming corner. Instead of "time-out", which means 1 minute per year of age or you say when he can come out, it's "here is the calming corner, come out when you are calm". Or "your screaming hurts my ears, so back and play when you are done". It's a comfy spot, not a hard chair with a dunce cap...(jk )
So after two minutes the child has not calmed down and is still in full blown mode, won't stay where you have placed them, kicking, screaming, you let them back into the group like that?

I love your comfy spot idea and if it works for you great. My kids would want to be placed there that would have no effect on them. They have those places in the general play area. A comfy spot would not keep this one from getting up and being obstinate anyway. If put him in a chair he gets up, if I walk away from him he steps off the zone mat that the chair is on, if I walk away he follows slowly carrying on and such like a little mad man. Then he can't calm down, that horrible sob sob that breaks your heart comes out and it just continues.

Today I did more talking out with the little and it did seem to be a bit better day. I think my little was over over tired and just entered land of no return. I just don't want this to become the norm- Another thing is one of the parents travels a lot for work and I know this has an effect. Super smart kiddo, keeps right up with my three's.
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Heidi 12:07 PM 07-10-2013
Originally Posted by My3cents:
So after two minutes the child has not calmed down and is still in full blown mode, won't stay where you have placed them, kicking, screaming, you let them back into the group like that?
I love your comfy spot idea and if it works for you great. My kids would want to be placed there that would have no effect on them. They have those places in the general play area. A comfy spot would not keep this one from getting up and being obstinate anyway. If put him in a chair he gets up, if I walk away from him he steps off the zone mat that the chair is on, if I walk away he follows slowly carrying on and such like a little mad man. Then he can't calm down, that horrible sob sob that breaks your heart comes out and it just continues.

Today I did more talking out with the little and it did seem to be a bit better day. I think my little was over over tired and just entered land of no return. I just don't want this to become the norm- Another thing is one of the parents travels a lot for work and I know this has an effect. Super smart kiddo, keeps right up with my three's.

No...I just don't tell them two minutes. I'd keep leading him back for as long as it takes. Give him something to hug (if he'll take it), but keep redirecting that he can't come back to the group until he's calmer. I'd let a sniffle or two go, but not the screaming. Of course, avoiding the tantrum with redirection or empathy (whatever the situation calls for) in the first place usually works better.

Honestly, I can't even remember ever having a child where a time-out really worked. The ones that would stay put "for two minutes" were usually pretty compliant anyway. The rest wouldn't stay on their spot, and it became a battle of wills over the time-out. Whatever the original crime was would be long forgotten.

The exception was the 5 year old I talked about before. But 5 is a whole lot different than 2. That kid was totally in control though. He obviously used the tantrums to manipulate everyone. Long story, but long gone...lol.
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