A BUSY mum has revealed a super simple trick to stop your toddler from having a meltdown, and it takes just a few seconds to work.
Getting your little ones to calm down can sometimes feel like fighting a losing battle, leaving many parents exhausted and frustrated.
However, “ gentle parent ” Kendra Worth revealed that she can get her two-year old to stop having a tantrum in less than the time it takes to boil the kettle.
Taking to TikTok , the mum of three demonstrated the trick on her daughter Noelle, who can be seen screaming about the fact that her mother has turned off the TV and told her they could read a story together.
“You don’t want books? You’re mad that the show is done?”, she asked Noelle calmly.
“Do you feel mad? Say ‘mummy I’m mad'”, she continued, as her toddler continued to wail.
Explaining what she is doing, Kendra said that step one of her hack is to validate what her daughter is annoyed about, so she knows that she understands.
She then encourages Noelle to calmly ask her mum what she wants, instead of yelling at her.
However, she said that this does not mean that her daughter is going to get what she wants.
“My kids never get what they want after screaming”, she said.
Kendra’s daughter is then encouraged to let out her feelings by stomping, with her mum joining in too.
“As adults, we need to co-regulate toddlers and do these exercises together”, she explained.
“Stomping is my two-year-old’s current favourite way to calm down”.
After the pair have stomped their feet together, Kendra asks Noelle again, if she would like to read a book.
The child is now much calmer, and agrees to pick a book for her mother to read to her.
Finally, Kendra asks Noelle to thank her for allowing her to watch the TV, as “screen time is not a given.”
How to stop temper tantrums
Find out why the tantrum is happening:
There are many reasons your child may have a tantrum, it could be as simple as them being tired or hungry.
They could also be feeling jealous, or just need attention and love.
Find a distraction:
If you think your child is starting a tantrum, finding something to distract them with straight away can help.
This could be a toy, or something you see out the window, like a dog or a flower.
Be prepared when you’re out shopping:
A parents know, many tantrums happen in shops and it can be hard to keep your cool.
Keeping shopping trips as short as possible can help, as well as involving your child in the shopping by talking about what you need and letting them help you.
“The most important thing to do during your toddler’s tantrum is to stay calm & regulate yourself”, she said.
“You need to be that example for them and your calm energy will bring down the intensity of the situation much more effectively than if you ramp up to their level and try to intimidate them into stopping.”
Kendra’s ( @kendraworth ) video has likely left many people intrigued, as it has racked up over 500,000 views on the video sharing platform.
TikTok users raced to the video’s comments section to share their thoughts on her clever hack, with some praising Kendra’s tactics.
One person said: “This is phenomenal. As a paediatric occupational therapist, I work very hard to educate parents on how to redirect their children when they become upset.
“I definitely plan on showing this as an example!!”
A second person added: “Beautifully done! Definitely taking notes.”
However, others were less convinced.
One person said: “They are too young to self-regulate and trying to softly reason with them is ridiculous.”
Another person added: “Tell me when they start to understand please.
“My son is 21 months old and he couldn’t care less. It’s so hard to try to talk to him.”
