Addressing Public Temper Tantrums

When your little one starts to grow and develop their own little personality, they are going to test you as much as they can. Temper tantrums are a given, after all, they do not call it the “terrible twos” for nothing. Public temper tantrums can be really difficult to deal with, especially if this is your first child. Keep reading to discover the right way for addressing public temper tantrums and hopefully minimizing them in the future.

Tell Them What is Coming Next

One of the main reasons why kids have temper tantrums when out in public is because they are bored with the situation. That is why, you should keep them updated along the way, right from the moment you are leaving the house. Tell them where you are going, how many stops you have to make and update them along the way. They might not understand everything you are saying but this can really calm children down when you are speaking to them like an equal.

Have an “Emergency Bag”

One of the most common places where public temper tantrums occur is in the grocery store. This is often due to the child demanding something from the store (usually candy or a toy.) Make sure you bring their favorite toy from the house but don’t show them this until you can sense a tantrum brewing. Hopefully, when you pull out the toy, this will diffuse the situation. You should also have a snack and a drink in this bag that they enjoy. While your emergency bag might not work every single time, it should definitely reduce the number of public temper tantrums that your child has.

Get Them Involved

Toddlers love to feel like they are older than what they are, so give them jobs to do when you are out and about or generally make them feel like they are involved with the process. When out grocery shopping, ask them if they can find certain items and put them in the basket. When you are walking out and about, ask them questions like “can you see the kitty?” Doing things like this will generally make the experience a little more fun for them, which will hopefully stop any meltdowns occurring.

Keep Your Voice Calm and Low

When your child is showing signs that they are getting a little heated and even when they are in full tantrum mode, don’t get angry or shout at them. This will only make the situation worse because when you are stressed, they are stressed. Keep your voice calm and talk to them at a normal volume. If they do have a full-on public temper tantrum, ignore any stares or reactions from others and wait for it to pass – which could be much quicker than you think.

A Note from GR8NESS

Even the best-behaved kid will have a public temper tantrum at some point, so they are nothing to be concerned about. By following these tips, you should be able to decrease the number of times that this happens and also be prepared on how to deal with it as swiftly as possible.