Toddler Tantrum In Public

Although little J is a toddler this post isn't about him as he hasn't hit the terrible two's yet although I am waiting for the day that my little cheeky monkey turns into a little monster. No, this is a post about another child that I just so happened to see outside a supermarket recently.

I was rooting through my bag for a £1 coin or my trolley keyring when I spotted out the corner of my eye, a mum with 3 children. She had one in the pram, one attached to her wrist with a rein wrist strap and another maybe 6 months older than little J. The eldest was screaming so loudly that it made me turnaround. He was screeching and screaming and obviously having a tantrum. I didn't want to stare but I couldn't help but look. Poor mum was struggling to get a grip on him as she pushed the pram and had the other on a strap. She didn't yell or scream she politely asked him to come to her. He didn't. He did the opposite and started stomping towards the taxi rank. She then raised her voice to ask him to stop and he just threw himself on the floor. It had been raining quite heavily through the night and there was just one large puddle and he just so happened to land in it. He just sat there screaming and crying and kicking out his legs. It was awful.

I have to admit that I had watched without it being obvious that I was staring at them but I felt so sorry for the mum. She looked like she wanted to cry. I don't know whether it was the 'mum' in me, the fact I'm a nursery nurse or just I felt so sorry for this woman I actually wanted to go over and offer her some help. I didn't and I wouldn't because if someone did that to me I would feel so embarrassed but I really wanted to help her out.

Once he had sat down in the puddle she was able to catch up with him and she did manage to get him up and get into a taxi.

Big J had a few tantrums like this when he was younger but I didn't have anyone else to look after so we could deal with them quite quickly. If they happened in public I would get very embarrassed and I knew people would be staring and judging me on how I handled it. I actually think this mum handled it so well and although the boy ended up in a puddle and was soaking wet at least in the end it calmed him down...a little.

I think it's so important to remember that when your toddler is having a tantrum it doesn't mean you are a bad parent you are just a parent of a toddler. Toddlers have tantrums and it will more than likely happen in a public place at least once.

I am not an expert when it comes to Toddler Tantrums. Little J hasn't had one yet but I have seen many over the years.

Here are a few tips.

Don't scream back. It will get you nowhere.

Don't threaten them. If you start saying 'you can't have sweets now' or 'you can't watch Frozen tonight' this will make them mad and the situation will get worse.

Stay calm and try and continue as normal. I know this might sound hard to do but it you are in the supermarket aisle shopping, continue shopping. If you don't give them attention they may calm down.

If the temper tantrum continues remove them. So take them out of the shop or wherever you are.

Give them time to calm down

If they do calm down and the tantrum stops. Give them a cuddle, a kiss and praise them for being a good boy/girl and stopping crying. They will soon realise that they get more attention when they are good.

Have you ever had to deal with a Toddler Tantrum in public? Do you have any tips?