Tips for Managing Toddler Tantrums with Patience

Toddler tantrums are inevitable, but they don’t have to take over your day. Here’s how to handle them with patience and grace.

1. Stay Calm (Even When They Aren’t)

Your child feeds off your energy. If you stay calm, they’re more likely to settle down faster. Take deep breaths, speak in a soft voice, and remind yourself that tantrums are normal.

2. Validate Their Feelings

Sometimes, toddlers just want to be heard. Instead of dismissing their emotions, try saying: "I see you’re really upset. It’s okay to feel that way." This helps them feel understood and can de-escalate the situation.

3. Use Distraction and Redirection

When possible, shift their focus to something else:

• Offer a different toy or activity.

• Take them to another room.

• Start singing a silly song.

4. Set Clear Boundaries with Love

It’s okay to acknowledge their feelings while still holding boundaries. “I know you’re upset that we can’t have cookies before dinner, but we’ll have one after we eat.”

5. Teach Simple Coping Skills

Help your child learn ways to manage frustration:

• Deep breathing: “Smell the flower, blow out the candle.”

• Squeezing a soft toy.

• Stomping feet in place (a controlled way to release energy).