Month: December 2019

Tackling Temper Tantrums

Posted on by amelioadmin

Scenario 1:

You’re at the store doing the monthly grocery shopping with your 3-year-old child. He spots a shelf filled with chocolates and wants one. You refuse. He asks again, louder. You try to explain why he can’t have the chocolate. Before you know it your son is screaming and crying and refusing to budge.

Scenario 2:

Your nearly two-year-old is sitting at the table for breakfast and asks for a banana. You peel it and hand it to her. This results in a meltdown because she wanted to peel it herself. When you offer her another banana to peel, the crying becomes louder because she wants the first banana with the peel back on.

Parents, if you’ve dealt with the above, don’t worry! You’re not alone. Around 18 months to 2 years, your baby starts to develop socially and emotionally, and at the same time they are learning to communicate. This means they aren’t always able to express with words what they are feeling. Which leads to temper tantrums and meltdowns. 

These tantrums can seem to come out of nowhere and can take place even in the most public places, which can drive you nuts. But remember your child is learning to manage and express the big emotions they are feeling. The good news is temper tantrums taper off around age 3.5-4 years, as the child learns to communicate better.

While temper tantrums are part and parcel of your toddler developing and getting a handle on their emotions. There are certain ways in which you can deal with them as well as reduce their occurrence.

Handling a temper tantrum

Stay calm if your child is in the midst of a temper tantrum. I know that’s hard to do when your baby is in tears and howling. But if your child is not endangering himself or others, give him/her space to vent.

 ∙      Let your child ride out the tantrum, remember they are dealing with certain feelings that they need to process. If it involves shouting and crying, let them. Sit next to them, be there with them until they’ve calmed down and then you can talk about it.

 ∙      If your child is having a tantrum in a public space that can be uncomfortable, but shushing them or giving in to their demands won’t help. Instead, be gentle and calm and get them to the car or somewhere private where they can unleash.

 Avoiding a temper tantrum

Hungry, tired, not getting enough attention are some major reasons that lead to meltdowns.

∙      An overtired or hungry child is more likely to have a meltdown. So make sure your child sticks to their schedule (nap times, bedtime) as much as possible. If you’re going out with your child, make sure they are fed and carry snacks along. 

∙      Every child needs a quota of one-on-one time with their parents. Try to give them some undivided attention every day, where you play with them, read, do an activity together. Praise them for good behavior at this time and talk to them about how to handle their feelings.

Dealing with temper tantrums is frustrating, confusing and sometimes even embarrassing (when it’s in public). But it comes with your child growing up and learning to deal with feelings. So try to be present and allow them to express themselves. And remember this stage will pass.

Screen Time for Children: Where to draw the line

Posted on by amelioadmin

Who among us parents haven’t stuck our kids in front of the television or tablet? So that we can get some work done in peace or just eat without a child clinging on to us. Most of us have been there and done that. Screens make for a good and, not to mention, convenient babysitter.  And honestly, in today’s technology-driven world where there are smartphones, tablets and television screens everywhere you look you can’t really keep your children away from them for long.

At the same time, most of us are aware that too much screen time can hinder your child’s development. There are even studies that say certain programs can cause aggression in your child and it is better not to be wholly dependent on television or a tablet to keep your child occupied. So where do you draw the line? And how much screen time should you allow for your child?

According to the W.H.O (World Health Organization), a child below the age of 1 shouldn’t be exposed to electronic screens at all (video chat is allowed to an extent), and for ages 2-4 years an hour of screen time a day is the maximum allowed.

Children learn and develop by interacting with the world around them. They need plenty of physical activities to grow strong and healthy, and also express their creative imagination. Extensive hours of screen time hinder this! So, to help you find the balance, we’ve put together some guidelines when it comes to screen time for your kids.

  • Always supervise what your child is watching or what games/ apps they are playing. Make sure it’s age appropriate and educational.
  • A particular game or app might be advertised as being educational, but do your research as well before allowing your child to play it.
  • Stick to time limits when it comes to screen time. Make it clear from the start that they only get to watch for a certain amount of time. Your child might throw a tantrum for some extension time period. But, don’t give in and try to distract them with some other activity.
  • Don’t use screens to get your child to eat, it might be easier to feed them while they are focused on watching a cartoon, but it’s setting a bad precedent. During meal times they need to pay attention to their food and what they are putting in their bodies.
  • Make sure you don’t allow screen time right before bedtime as this can over stimulate their brains, when they should actually be winding down for the day, and can hamper their sleep.
  • A big no-no is screens in your child’s bedroom. Don’t put a television in there and keep away tablets and laptops from their bedroom during the night.

If your child spending more time in front of screens than they should, these are certain things you can do to reduce this:

  • Put them in a group activity class— it could be a dance class or even a craft class, there are plenty of options.
  • Come up with some fun activities they can do at home like paint a picture or build a fort out of blankets.
  • Spend at least an hour of quality time with your child so they get your undivided attention. Once they get their fill, they’ll be better able to occupy themselves.

Slowly, your children will get used to less screen time and will find ways to entertain themselves.

By setting boundaries and being aware of what your child is consuming via screens you can make sure the limited time they spend in front of the television or on the tablet doesn’t interfere with their social, mental and physical development.