Our DD is coming on 10 months old. She is a VERY passionate little girl. Every emotion she has is with lots of passion. It is something that we love about her, but also something that we are aware can become quite a challenge as a parent.
Right now (and for the past 2 months or so) DD has been having little tantrums. I actually think she had her first full on temper tantrum at about 3.5 or 4 months. She screamed her head off and was very hard to distract when I wouldnt let her chew on a magazine because I wasnt sure of the type of dye and I didn't want her to choke on bits of ripped off paper. But even as a tiny infant she would look us directly in the eye and scream right into our face if what we were doing to try to sooth her was not what she wanted.
Now if she wants something and we do not let her have it (because it is unsafe or will be ruined) she will scream and pout and cry. When she wants something more at dinner she will just scream shrill bursts of screaming repeatedly until you figure out what she wants. She does this when she is done eating too. At almost every meal we have to go through a scream session before we figure out if she is done or wants something more/else.
We are trying to teach her some signs to eventually help with communication. At this point we try to not draw attention to it. We just calmly ask her if she is done or if she wants more of a particular thing or a list of things. If we get the right answer she immediately stops screaming and nods her little head and waits for us to give it to her.
For now we realize that there is really nothing we can do about the tantrums when she doesn't get to do something she wants. We empathize with her anger and/or frustration and distract her with something else like a toy or something else she may find more interesting but safer.
We do worry a bit about the future. How do we let our child know that there are better and more effective ways of communicating frustration or anger without tantrums? At what age do we start? I know 10 months is probably way too young. But is there foundations we should be/ could be laying now to help her and us out in the future? She is bright and we have realized (due to her ability to nod) that she does understand a large number of words and actions.
We are aware that her tantrums are just going to get longer and stronger and more frequent into toddlerhood and then (hopefully) get better. Are there any strategies in helping a child who is extra passionate and prone to emotional outbursts cope with situations?
(My DD is also very prone to big belly laughs and spends the majority of her day and time very happy).
Right now (and for the past 2 months or so) DD has been having little tantrums. I actually think she had her first full on temper tantrum at about 3.5 or 4 months. She screamed her head off and was very hard to distract when I wouldnt let her chew on a magazine because I wasnt sure of the type of dye and I didn't want her to choke on bits of ripped off paper. But even as a tiny infant she would look us directly in the eye and scream right into our face if what we were doing to try to sooth her was not what she wanted.
Now if she wants something and we do not let her have it (because it is unsafe or will be ruined) she will scream and pout and cry. When she wants something more at dinner she will just scream shrill bursts of screaming repeatedly until you figure out what she wants. She does this when she is done eating too. At almost every meal we have to go through a scream session before we figure out if she is done or wants something more/else.
We are trying to teach her some signs to eventually help with communication. At this point we try to not draw attention to it. We just calmly ask her if she is done or if she wants more of a particular thing or a list of things. If we get the right answer she immediately stops screaming and nods her little head and waits for us to give it to her.
For now we realize that there is really nothing we can do about the tantrums when she doesn't get to do something she wants. We empathize with her anger and/or frustration and distract her with something else like a toy or something else she may find more interesting but safer.
We do worry a bit about the future. How do we let our child know that there are better and more effective ways of communicating frustration or anger without tantrums? At what age do we start? I know 10 months is probably way too young. But is there foundations we should be/ could be laying now to help her and us out in the future? She is bright and we have realized (due to her ability to nod) that she does understand a large number of words and actions.
We are aware that her tantrums are just going to get longer and stronger and more frequent into toddlerhood and then (hopefully) get better. Are there any strategies in helping a child who is extra passionate and prone to emotional outbursts cope with situations?
(My DD is also very prone to big belly laughs and spends the majority of her day and time very happy).
i just tell him i understand that he is upset because he wanted xyz, after a little snuggle he is usually over it and onto the next thing he shouldn't be playing with (like a fly swatter ...ew 
)
) and then he cries for a little, we snuggle and all is good in the world again. Or, even better, if I can lock on to the moment through my own frustration, a quick playful moment always turn things around immediately. Even just a silly face or voice makes a huge difference.
