Taming The Tantrums
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Parents,
It’s time for another online parenting class!
This month we are going to tackle a very important subject that you face as a parent… This month we’re going to talk about taming those bigger-than-toddler-sized tantrums.
This issue is one that you likely face quite a lot. But don’t worry, we’ve got some help for you today. Check out this month’s online parenting class. It will give you a good start towards making positive changes in your home. I hope this lesson is helpful and please feel free to reply to this email with any prayer requests you may have for your family. I love serving you and your family through prayer.
https://vimeo.com/parentministry/review/137429766/e1256cad35
Partnering with you,
Preschool Pastor
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Parents,
How’s it going?
I hope you were able to watch our online parenting class on Taming the Tantrums.
Today we’re going to continue the conversation by reading some encouraging Scripture.
Listen to what Ephesians 4:26 says about tantrums: “In your anger do not sin…” Ephesians 4:26 (NIV) Here are two lessons we can learn from this Scripture to help with the tantrums our children have.
1. Preschoolers WILL get angry. As children grow and develop opinions and desires of their own, they will inevitably get irritated when things don’t go their way or when you “mess up” their plan. We cannot expect them to be happy and “roll with the flow” all of the time, especially when it is difficult for us as adults to follow that rhythm.
2. It should be the parent’s mission to assist their preschooler in navigating through their anger. Part of the parent’s job is to help them work through their feelings and teach them how to respond appropriately when feelings of anger arise. One way to do this best is by setting a good example for them in how you respond during frustrating situations.
So as you are engaging your kids today, don’t forget that each tantrum is a teaching moment for them to learn to portray self-control in how they communicate their anger.
We’ll see you in next month’s Online Parenting Class.
This has meant to be a resource that encourages and helps you. Please remember that our ministry cares about your family, and we love serving you!
Partnering with you,
Preschool Pastor
Video Script
I really wish the Bible had a verse that we can go to that will give us the answer to Taming our Child’s Tantrums.
Unfortunately, there’s not a ton of wisdom that addresses that topic specifically. But in the book of Proverbs there is a small bit of wisdom that might encourage you today to respond to your child’s tantrum in a healthy way.
Proverbs 15:1 says “A soft word tuns away anger, but a harsh word stirs up wrath”
So how do we offer “soft words” to our child when they are throwing a tantrum?
Here are 3 approaches you can try:
First of all- Try to determine what kind of tantrum it is. Is your child overwhelmed, exhausted, hungry or is there some specific cause to the tantrum that you can address? Or is the tantrum an attempt to manipulate you so the child can get what they want?
If your child is genuinely overwhelmed, it’s time to offer them comfort. Give them a hug, sip of water, or maybe a tissue. Just make sure to calmly communicate to them that you are their to offer them help for whatever is overwhelming them.
If your child’s trying to manipulate with their tantrum, you might try a different approach. One way to identify these tantrums is that they involve less tears and more of a demand that you give your child something they want.
One way to respond to this kind of tantrum is to refuse to react to it. Just wait for them to finish and then move on to the next activity. If your child is able to get a reaction from you, then it will encourage future tantrums.
Children have different temperaments, and the kids who tend to be more intense, are more likely to have tantrums.
A parents response to tantrums has a big impact on whether they continue. If you pay attention to tantrums, they are going to happen more often.
Second- Try to stay as calm as humanly possible. If you get angry in response to tantrums, they’re going to escalate.
Try spending less time attempting to talk your child out of their tantrum, and more time talking yourself through staying calm during it.
This is where you might whisper a quick prayer. Something like, “God please help me stay calm in this moment.”
Third- Be consistent and patient. These are two amazing ingredients in just about any parenting situation, but especially when it comes to tantrums. Your child will test you with tantrums, but eventually your consistency and patience will show them that tantrums will not get them what they want.
I don’t know that we ever grow out of having tantrums. We sometimes can still throw tantrums as adults.
But if you stick with it, your child will learn a healthy way to ask for what they want, and you will be glad that you made the effort to Tame those Tantrums.
Weekly tweets from you to parents:
TIP: Choose a hashtag for your tweets and use it consistently. That will tell Twitter to store a list of your tweets on one place for later reference.
Tweet One: Preschoolers have bad days too. #toddlertantrums #urchurchparentministry
Tweet Two: Be a responder, not a reactor. #setthatexample #urchurchparentministry
Tweet Three: In your anger do not sin #eph4:26 #urchurchparentministry
Tweet Four: Set the tone for your home: handle anger God’s way #selfcontrol #urchurchparentministry
Tweet Five: Anger is inevitable. How we respond is our choice. #choosewell #littleeyesarewatching #urchurchparentministry
Tweet Six: Control your anger. It’s only one letter away from danger. #urchurchparentministry
Tweet Seven: Self-control grows from time spent growing with the Lord. #fruitofthespirit #urchurchparentministry
Tweet Eight: Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret–it leads only to evil. #ps37:8 #urchurchparentministry
Tweet Nine: Tantrums are teaching moments. #trainupachild #urchurchparentministry
Tweet Ten: Asking questions can reveal a lot about the root of a toddler’s tantrum. #gettotheheart #urchurchparentministry